Written By: John Sommers
Narrated By: Kara Lea Kennedy
Several years ago, while working in Dallas, I had to fly down to Austin to meet with a customer. Since Southwest Airlines had a BOGO (buying one ticket would get a companion flight for free), I decided to take Jared, my five-year-old son.
We drove to DFW airport under a nasty, rainy, and very dark sky. Traffic was backed up, and all drivers seemed to be hunched over their steering wheel, muttering and snarling at the surrounding drivers. We eventually got to the terminal and checked in.
I was disappointed that it was raining and overcast. I wanted my son to see the grand airport drama of planes taxiing, landing, and taking off. We walked straight to the gate. Soon we taxied out to begin our takeoff. The engine’s thrust pushed us back in the seat as we accelerated.
The nose gear lifted off the runway, and we began our ascent. The plane shuddered as we flew through the storm’s turbulence. Then suddenly, we burst through the cloud cover; brilliant white light gleamed off the wing. The blazing sunlight all around, and the billowing clouds as far as you could see in every direction. So magnificent!
Jared’s face seemed glued to his window, completely overwhelmed by the sight. Staring out in complete amazement, he turned to me and softly whispered, “Dad, (pause)this is where God lives.” His voice was filled with complete wonder; he spoke with as much awe as a five-year-old could capture.
And why not? Such reverence is seldom manifested, even in the great cathedrals of Europe. But Jared was seeing that wide spectacle for the first time. As I looked out at the sea of white, I thought, You’re right, son. This is definitely where God lives.
Over the years, I have thought many times about that flight. A few thousand feet of elevation completely changed Jared’s perspective and mine that day. We went from a dark, dirty, wet morning, dodging cars on the freeway, up to a child’s view of the wide open, hushed spaces God created.
And that stunning east-to-west spectacle has caused me to pray on numerous occasions, “Lord, let me see all you have created through the eyes of a five-year-old child.”
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