Article August 11, 2003 Issue

ON WINGS and plenty of prayer

A family of five navigates 14-hour flights and fears of flying in a post-9/11 world.

By Molly Larsen

There's still concern about flying these days. Is it safe? Could something happen to the airplane? What about a terrorist attack? What happens if something occurs and you're far from home? Is it really safe to travel with young children?

I heard all these concerns, and more, when I was preparing for what I knew would be an epic journey for my family. The five of us were planing to travel from the United States halfway around the world to Australia to visit my parents. Our final destination would be their ranch in Esperance, a coastal town in Western Australia. It's about as far from home as we could go and still be on the planet.

Yet, in spite of all my concerns about the safety of flying, something stronger and more trustworthy was impelling me forward. I felt God's presence with me through each step of the planning. I felt that this trip was the right thing to do, something positive and happy for our family.