The Evolution of Conversations of Jesus

Anyone who knows me, knows I start each plane ride with a little conversation with Jesus.  A couple weeks ago I had several plane rides to reflect on that little conversation and how it has evolved.  My first travel “conversation” happened on the back of a motorcycle on my first ride.  I did really well on our gravel road, but then we hit the pavement.  All I could think of was just how close that pavement was as it passed by at a rate of 60 miles an hour and “Please, God, don’t let me die today.” was born.  That little conversation carried me through many bumpy flights when we were up here before and every motorcycle ride I’ve ever been on.  Sometimes it became a conversation starter, “Wait, I can’t die today.  I don’t have a will made. . .Later, on another flight, it got even stickier.  “Please, God, don’t let me die. . . But what if we go down and it’s really bad?  I might rather die than live in that state.  So, don’t let me die unless I’ll be in really bad shape.  But where do we draw the line between the two? God, use your judgement, you know what’s best.  But . . . that’s still pretty tough.  Uh . .  . Jesus keep me safe.”  The evolution had begun.

Then, on the back of a motorcycle again, it got a little deep.  We were cruising along at a rate of speed faster than I cared for, but when you’re number two in a line of a dozen bikes, you can’t fall back and do your own thing.  As we sped by a rock face I felt was far too close, “No, really, God, I mean it, don’t let me die today.”  From there we launched into a pretty lengthy discussion about the faith of mustard seeds and whether that was a lesson in faith or if it was really just spiritual blackmail.  So my conversation became simple.  “Jesus, keep me safe.” and that was it.  I have faith so the conversation need be no longer.  Then, my last flight happened.  It was one of only three flights attempted that day because of the weather and one of those went back without trying to land because it was so bad.  As I’m staring at the floor and gripping the seat, all I’m thinking is “Jesus, keep me safe.  Jesus, keep me safe.  Jesus keep me safe. . .”  Obviously, I’m a work in progress and He still has much to do.