Article November 21, 1988 Issue

A holiday flight

We don't just have to endure disturbances going on around us. Prayer is a practical way to bring calm to any situation.

Kenneth A. Nelson

For several years I have flown regularly on business trips, and as a student of Christian Science I always take time to pray for these trips. Nowadays I use most of the time to prepare myself prayerfully for meetings and events that need my attention. But I have to admit that, at first, fear of the flights impelled my prayer. And I found that my fear could be healed through prayer.

Often my prayer began by affirming that wherever I was, God was right there with me—that He was never separate from His creation, which includes not just me but everyone. God was my protection, and knowing myself as His spiritual child, I could be fearless. Many times I would calm the fear by pondering the twenty-third or the ninety-first Psalm or some other favorite Bible passages.

On one particular trip recently, I boarded a flight home. Seated nearby were three children with their mother, grandmother, and aunt. We were all pleased to be heading home for the holidays, and I was glad to see everyone joyous. But as the plane taxied for takeoff the youngest child decided that sitting with Grandma was second to being in Mother's arms. He bolted to her in the seats behind, so that two children and the mother were then sitting in two seats. Somewhat limited there, the young boy began whining, "Ma, Ma, Ma. ..." Having flown with young children myself, I had much empathy for the situation.

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