Yesterday, returning from New York, I flew First Class. Now I’ve flown first and business class many times in my life, but yesterday’s was different; I flew first, while all around me was economy. As I sat myself down, I felt a strange sense of joy. It was indescribable, till I realised there was a word for it, a long word, if you put it together, the ‘peace that passeth understanding’! Quite a long word that, and I’ve experienced that word off and on in my life. I remember feeling it when creditors during my business days once knocked at my door, and I knew I could deal with them and the serious situation, because again I was flying first class, when all around me was economy.
Coming back to my flight, all I’d done in the morning instead of buying a first class ticket was to pray, “Lord travel back with me,” and suddenly the words of the 23rd Psalm leaped before my eyes, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want!”
I’m not happy saying goodbye, and it’s always been difficult when I part with my daughter in New York, as I go through an emotional upheaval when I leave her. “Give me peace and calm Lord,” I prayed, “And comfort too!” He did, as I passed my economy class ticket to him, and without making the seat wider, the cushions softer, or the legroom more, He flew me down First Class.
“I’m happy with my seat,” I told my wife, as I settled down, but didn’t tell her who was sitting on the other side, though I’m sure she guessed, seeing me smile most of the time, even when the orange juice fell all over me.
The ‘peace that passeth understanding’, it can make a hut a palace, a bullock cart a limousine! Talking of limousines, it was six months ago I told my wife I was going in for a better car. “Which one?” she asked, obviously guessing. “A Mercedes,” I said. “Why?” she asked.
“Always wanted one!” I said, but she wasn’t convinced. And then one day as I drove my old one, after I had test driven a Merc, I realised I didn’t need another, I already had the best, as the One who sat beside me, made the old interiors new, the drive joyous and the ride exhilarating!
I felt the same as I felt yesterday; flying first class while sitting in economy. The mirror at home looked back at me smiling, “You’re not looking tired,” it said. “I flew First Class,” I said as the One who’d sat beside me nodded and softly whispered, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Those words from John 14: 27, is the peace that passeth understanding; flying first while sitting economy..!
—Email: bobsbanter@gmail.com
