Our flight has ended. Our next trip now begins.
The plane has landed. Another plane is taking off.
What did you enjoy from your journey 2024? What lessons did you learn? What struggles did you endure? What encounters did you enjoy?
What parts of flight 2024 do you plan to tell others? Why? How did those experiences bring smiles or tears?
If you summarized the exploit in a sentence, what would you write?
How do you hope flight 2025 is different? What traveled with you that you hope doesn’t board your next plane? What carryons do you seek to bring along?
A year ends—or as this story tells, a flight lands.
A new year begins—or as this story tells, a flight takes off.
Take time to think about a year ending. Take time to think about a year beginning. Process the questions. Consider your answers.
Remember there’s much we can’t control.
And remember there’s much we can.
I believe the new year—the new flight—is a wonderful opportunity God has created for us. Let us welcome His wisdom. Let us cherish His direction.
I pray we board the right plane, leave behind what we should, bring with us what we should, travel where we should as we should. I pray we enjoy the flight we’re on instead of comparing other trips. I pray we accept our seats.
This end is another beginning.
I pray we fly as we should and enjoy the journey.
I’ve been reading Thomas Merton’s excerpt on “The Time of No Room” where he portrays a time of “no room in the inn” along side a time of great joy. The great joy was experienced by shepherds “living in the fields” who were apparently unmoved by rumors of massed crowds or fear of the coming taxes. No doubt they had registered, just as Mary and Joseph had done, but they do not seem to be affected. They remain outside the agitation and untouched by the masses. They obeyed the Light. Nothing else was required, but they returned to their fields with Great Joy, spreading the Good News to all who would listen!
That’s what I would like my Flight 2025 to be. Untouched by the din of squawking politicians, or fears of raging wars but to be at perfect peace on my flight because I know who the Pilot is. He can take me wherever He deems best.