Debbie and I recently celebrated our 25thWedding Anniversary and took a trip to Arizona. During this trip, we rode a hot air balloon over the Red Rock National Park, outside Sedona. It was majestic and magnificent. I’ll be the first to tell you that I’m scared of heights. I have no problems flying in airplanes, but I’m not your guy for climbing a water tower or doing work at any heights. I have done roofing projects, climbed scaffolding up to three stories high and went to the top of the St. Louis Arch, but I wasn’t a happy camper during each of these tasks. By the way, taking a hot air balloon ride was on my ‘Bucket List’. I want to take on activities of this nature to address my fears.
At the end of the hot air balloon ride, the following prayer was read by the balloon Captains:
May the sun bless you with its warm hands.
May you fly so high and so well that God
joins you in laughter and sets you gently
back into the loving arms of Mother Earth.
So how does this tie to Jesus Christ?
Well there is only one way that I can address my fears and that is my strong belief in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Having Jesus in my life, gives me the strength to take on difficult task. Prior to purchasing the balloon ride tickets I said a prayer for him to watch over me, during this new adventure. Once the ‘Balloonist Prayer’ was read, I knew that Jesus was by my side throughout this awesome experience. Our Lord, Jesus Christ will be beside us through our trials and tribulations, even if it’s as simple as a hot air balloon ride.
By the way, my fears were unfounded. I wasn’t scared at all throughout the balloon ride, even when we were 2500 feet above the ground. But I’m still not climbing a water tower.
Your friend in Christ,
Steve Haller