Airplane!

The 1980 comedy starring Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty quickly became a hit and is revered as a cult classic in many circles. The film is about Ted Striker, a former pilot in the Air Force, and his love for Elaine Dickenson, a stewardess (back when they were called stewardesses <--fyi, stewardesses is the longest English word one can spell using only their left hand, in proper hand position.) Ted follows Elaine onto a plane, trying to mend their broken relationship, only to be found crucially important, as he is the only one aboard that can not only fly the plane, but isn't suffering from the food poisoning that struck down the pilots and navigator. The movie is filled with so much stupidity and randomness, that it's easily one of my favorites.

What can we learn from such an odd movie? In watching Airplane! I was reminded of how in control of our lives God is. Ted's love story with Elaine, which he recounts to anyone who has ears, is one of many ups and downs, but because of everything that happened to him, the fateful raid Ted organized that killed 7 men, the flying experience, the fact that their relationship was bad and Ted felt he had to go on the plane to get Elaine, and his choice of dinner saved that plane full of people.

Jeremiah 29:11 says: "I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

This was written by Jeremiah during the reign of Babylon, as the Israelites were being forced out of their homeland (again). Jeremiah was writing to reassure the Israelites that God is in control, and His plan is perfect, and to trust in it.

All of the things that happen to us in our lives, we may not understand. We might not know why our dad lost his job when we were kids so we didn't get to have much, or why our best friend died at a young age, or why we couldn't go to this one thing this one time, but God knows. He has a plan for all of us. We may not know the ending, and it may not make sense at all (much like Airplane!) when we're in the thick of it, but, surely, God knows what He's doing.

He does know what He's doing. And don't call me Shirley.

Next week: Amazing Grace