It was the last flight of the evening. I was ready to get home. Barely, had I connected the seat belt aboard my puddle jumper plane, when in walked my friend the late Glenn Owen. Together we were two of the four or five passengers bound for home.Exuberant Glenn always had a story. Tied to his people personality and high-energy wiring, his stories were always true and knee slapping funny.

The previous time he took our flight, Glenn was the lone passenger. In Glenn Owen fashion, he described his conversation with the flight attendant. The young stewardess perceived he was a frequent flyer and proposed to dismiss the loud speaker fasten your seat belt speech.

After all—being a trained pilot and having heard the spill on hundreds of previous flights—he knew to look for the exits. He was even aware he could use the seat cushions as the flotation device—just in case the plane ditched in the ocean while in the middle of West Texas. He knew by heart the instruction to place his oxygen mask over his nose and breathe normally—even though the pouch on the masks does not inflate.

Glenn would have nothing with the speech dismissal idea.

Upon his insistence, she went through the complete spill to the lone passenger on the late night flight. I can only imagine the delight flowing from every pour of Mr. Owen’s face.

As a million mile flyer, I have tuned out the demonstration more often than the times I listened.

However, at first glance, a part of the instruction seems to be selfish. It goes against motherly and fatherly instinct. “In case there is a lack of oxygen—masks will drop from the compartments above. Adults should put on their masks first then—in second place—help the children.

Today, I refocus on the original purpose of the GodReflection site.

My purpose is to secure my own mask first by reflecting on God. I cannot help others if I blackout for a lack of God’s breath in my soul.

As I move toward the final leg of my earthly journey, it is my purpose to point the sword of God’s word at me and not at my fellow travelers.

Being a God-wired introvert, I find my most productive manner to sort through my own thought process is by putting ideas on paper. Here is how I think it works. I fill my mind by reading, listening, and pondering. It is in the act of placing words on paper that I sort the ideas and begin to get a grasp of God’s call upon my life.

From the beginning, I decided to make this process and open one. I invite others to read over my shoulder as I move toward the finish line.

I committed to keep free of doctrinal disputes. At times, I hug the line or perhaps cross it. I will try to do better. I want to focus on Jesus not controversy. I want you to love, trust, and follow Jesus. I don’t ask you to agree with every thought passing through my mind.

I find getting to know God, Jesus, and the Spirit, to be a journey. I doubt that anytime my understanding is spot-on in the eyes of the Godhead. With each passing day, I count on magnificent grace as ticking second by ticking second the blood from the cross of Jesus covers my sin and my lack of understanding.

It is good to refocus on the focus of getting my God-oxygen mask in place.

Stay tuned.

Gary J. Sorrells – Reflecting on Cross Church

http://www.GodReflection.org