Happy Landing

Ernest C. Pearson

Randy was seventeen. With his activity in little theater, a boys organization, and his part-time job, he was having a busy summer. Also, he had recently joined an organization that promoted flying. In a few days he would be taking his first ride in an aircraft.

When the day came, it was warm and sunny, and soon the small single-engine plane was accelerating down the runway. The scenery outside the aircraft appeared to be moving very fast. Then it almost became motionless and much smaller as the plane lifted into the air. He was flying!

An hour later the pilot was preparing to land at another airport and Randy was all smiles. He liked flying! But suddenly there was a terrifying sound. The plane was careening down the wide concrete runway and smoke and fire were pouring from under the engine cowling. Randy turned to the pilot, whose tense face showed how hard he was trying to control the aircraft.

Randy began to pray. He silently affirmed the ever-present truth of man's oneness with God. He remembered how Christ Jesus met potentially dangerous situations with great calm. He held on to these words by Mary Baker Eddy: "All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all."^{Science and Health, p. 468;}

The plane came to an abrupt stop. The crew climbed out, the crash truck arrived, and the fire was extinguished. Randy then learned that the landing gear had not lowered properly. He had just experienced a wheels-up landing. An airport official who had witnessed the incident commented that they were lucky the effects of the crash landing were not more serious. Randy knew that God's love, not luck, had protected them and he was grateful for a proof that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."^{Ps. 46:1.}

Randy was soon in another aircraft heading to his home base. Later, many people suggested that if he continued to fly he would always be apprehensive about landings. He rejected these negative and limiting thoughts. He replaced them with firm and positive truths of man's permanent safety and unlimited ability. He knew that the mental picture of an accident was unnatural and did not have to haunt his future.

The experience happened years ago, and Randy has continued his interest in flying, without fear of landing. He now holds a commercial pilot's license and is a certified flight instructor, teaching others to fly. He has also continued his earnest study of Christian Science. It continues to show him how understanding God's allness can be relied on always.

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