"Tail Gunner"

I got an email from one of my cousins and while it was very funny, it was also a point of inspiration. Yesterday was one of those days. Murphy’s Law was working overtime! If it could go wrong, it did! Well, anyway, today is better. I woke up on this side of the dirt and God is still in control. You gotta smile! Well, let me get to the story. Here’s the email that Jimmy Emmitte sent to me:

Chuck was sitting in an airplane when another fellow took a seat beside him. The new guy was an absolute wreck...pale, hands shaking, biting his nails and moaning in fear. "Hey pal, what's the matter?" Chuck asked. "Oh man.... I've been transferred to Texas ," the other guy answered, "there's crazy people in Texas ....and they have shootings, gangs, race riots, drugs, high crime rate...." "Hold on," Chuck interrupted, "I've lived in Texas all my life and it is not as bad as the media says. Find a nice home, go to work, mind your own business, enroll your kids in a good school and it's as safe as anywhere in the world." The other passenger relaxed and stopped shaking for a moment and said, "Oh thank you. I've been worried to death but if you live there and say it's OK, I'll take your word for it. What do you do for a living?" "Me?" said Chuck, "Oh, I'm a tail gunner on a bread truck in Laredo."

You laughed… admit it. But here’s the truth in the humor: We all fear the unknown. One of Satan’s best weapons is to get us to focus on the future and all of the dark corners that lurk in our path forward. The truth is that God knows our every step and will light every inch of the way. We are in the best of care when we trust in Him. Here’s what Isaiah told Israel in the face of overwhelming odds from invading nations:

I took you from the ends of the earth; from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. "All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:9-13 NIV).

Being a tail gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress was a lonely existence, much like the ball turret gunner. The gunner sat at the very tail end of the plane in a tight location always looking to the rear. In addition to being the gunner he was also the eyes for the rest of the crew and could give a heads up on approaching enemy aircraft. It was the most crucial of positions! They protected the entire crew at their most vulnerable point. Well, here’s the point: the Lord is our Tail Gunner! And, he doesn’t miss! So, whether you live in Texas or Tennessee, or anywhere else on this earth, he takes your right hand and says, “Do not fear!”