There is a story that I have heard from Apollo 13 Commander,
Jim Lovell about an experience he had, that really got me to thinking
this morning.
The story goes, that he was returning from a mission in World War II
in a fighter that had been severely damaged. In combat conditions his
base, the aircraft carrier Shangri-La, was following orders by not having
their running lights on. His radar had jammed, and his homing signal
was receiving a signal leading him away from where he was supposed to
be. At that point he flipped on his map light to get a look and his
electrical system completely failed. So, now without any radar, lights,
instruments, a homing signal that was giving him faulty information
and running low on fuel he was in real trouble. Looking at the dire
situation that he was in, he was thinking of ditching his aircraft into that
vast sea below. When suddenly he noticed, there in the darkness,
as he descibed it, "There's this green trail. It's like a long carpet that's just
laid out right beneath me." This was the phosphorescent algae that was
churned up by the very carrier that he was looking for. Lovell continued,
"If my cockpit lights hadn't shorted out, there's no way I'd ever been able
to see that. You never know what events are to transpire to get you home."
We sing the song, "I Know the Lord Will Find A Way for Me", but I think
sometimes we forget how true that statement really is. God has put into place
all of the things to help us get home.
Psalm 119:105 - "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Psalm 37:23-24 -
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the LORD upholds him with His hand.
The path ways that the Lord provides, glow just as that algae that He provided
in James Lovell's experience. We just have to shut off all of the man-made
distractions so that we can see them. Take time to search for those paths.
Spend time in the word today!
Have a great Tuesday!
