It’s hard to believe I’m writing this from 50,000 feet in the air. Or I think that’s how. We’re in the air- it’s about 12:30 NYC time. About 3,000 miles from Rome we just passed. “St John” (some place in Canada). It’s kind of cool I can jot some thoughts down. Just spent some time praying and making a list of intentions to pray for throughout the Holy City…
As a lot of you know this is my second trip ever out of the USA (and again to Vatican City). This was a previous scheduled pilgrimage with Lino Rulli’s THE CATHOLIC GUY show back in October.
The theme this time though for me is how little in control I am and how I have to yield to God and His will. We never imagined a month ago we’d be going to Rome without a Pope being there… In fact we had a whole itinerary planned with a two day trip to Assisi and five days in Roma. We had to cancel Assisi in anticipation of the conclave we still don’t know when it will begin! And we have no idea if we will be here in time to see the new Pope…
No control. God is in charge. It’s a lesson I’ve learned over and over and over again. Or I think that I do. Which is obviously one of the things The Lord obviously has put on my heart once again. To let go of my fears, my anxieties, my plans, my desires, my worries. To lay them all at his feet and enjoy the ride.
The fact that I’m coming to that realization at 50,000 feet above – no longer having panic attacks about flying- tells me that’s a pretty important lesson.
God Blesss
So happy for you! You are truly blessed,Padre!
You're 50,000 feet closer to heaven 🙂 Thank you for posting this, Fr. Jim. I'm also thanking God for the gift of you, the gift of your ministry, and the gift of your being able to 'let go'. And, the second you did that, you sounded so much more 'in control' (no panic attacks? I rest my case). Have a blessed trip
You're 50,000 feet closer to heaven 🙂 Thank you for posting this, Fr. Jim. I'm also thanking God for the gift of you, the gift of your ministry, and the gift of your being able to 'let go'. And, the second you did that, you sounded so much more 'in control' (no panic attacks? I rest my case). Have a blessed trip
Oh Father Jim, you are so funny. I didn't know you didn't care much for flying! And I can guarantee you, you have never flown at 50,000 feet… Only small private jets and military jets fly that high. But something that my beloved Fighter Pilot/Test Pilot husband always reminded me: Planes never just fall out of the sky. They don't. And there are back-up systems to the back-up systems, often triple-redundant. But the times I have gotten nervous, I just picture the entire aircraft in God's great big palm and as you wrote…know that He is in control. When you look at those websites that show all the commercial aircraft in the air at once, you get an idea of how incredibly safe flying is. It really is. I still find it magical and a true privilege from God, and even though I know how flight works (lift over drag), it still mystifies me!