In case you haven’t figured it out, I am, or rather, I was the scared geek. No surprise there huh? If I hadn’t been one, I don’t think it would have happened.
A good example of my geekiness is how I have always been fascinated with airplanes and helicopters. Each time I watch one take off or land, I get so excited. It’s like I’m a kid again. That goes for trains as well.
I saw both at one time on the way to a concert at the Thompson Boling arena. We were on Neyland drive by the Tennessee river. That’s where I saw a train crossing on a bridge while a lowing flying helicopter flew over the top of it. It was very picturesque. In fact, that
scene stuck with me in that I realized what amazing time in which we live. I thanked God for letting me witness that.
A few years later I saw another scene that also got my attention. It happened as Tim and I were driving out to my mom’s house late one evening. We had just turned onto Pedigo Road from Norris Freeway. That area is very open. Being me, I gazed up into the dark skies to look at the moon and the stars. What I actually noticed were two airplanes. One was heading due east. The other was heading north west. Then I noticed something. “Tim, do you see the two airplanes?” He shrugged. “ Yeah, so what?” I answered: “It may be just me, but it seems to me that they’re on a collision course.”
Now, these airplanes weren’t commercial jets that fly around 30,000 or more. They were smaller planes that fly at much lower altitudes. That being said, I had no idea at how high they actually were, but it seemed as if they were at the same height. “Can’t they see other? Don’t they have radar?” I was thinking out loud. I didn’t think they were aware of each other since neither one was deviating from their paths.
As I watched the space between them grew smaller, the harder my heart pounded. Were we going to witness them crashing into each other? I began to envision the mid-air collision in my head. First, there would be a massive fireball. Next burning pieces would plummet to the ground and set the fields and trees on fire. Of course, house and barns would be damaged from the debris and catch fire as well. Would something land on my mom’s home or somewhere on Papaw’s farm. Worst of all, how many people would be hurt or even killed by the collision? Also, how many of them knew Jesus?
As they were at each other, I almost screamed. Tim had the car down to a crawl. He was mesmerized by it as well. Then, nothing happened. Thankfully they flew by each other and onto their merry little ways. Obviously, there were far apart at different altitudes. I was relieved and said a prayer of thanks. After that, I felt kind of silly in that I had misinterpreted the scene and panicked for no reason.
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
I hate to admit it, but I have always been a little too quick to jump to conclusions and then to panic. In a way, that’s almost like giving up too soon instead of trusting and relying on Him. Instead, I need to pray about it and remember the awesome God that I serve.
Nobody else in my family or the community witnessed what Tim and I had. Nobody. To be fair, none of them are the geek like I am either. It’s okay, as long as I can gaze up into the sky, I will never be bored.
Brooke Cox is an author, speaker, and storyteller. She was a 2016 Selah Awards Finalist for Debut Novel. Her children’s book: “Dinosaur Eggs,” is now available. It is based on Ephesians 6: The Armor of God. Her novel “Until the Moon Rises: A Conniving Cousin Mystery” is also available. Also, she has two books out in her storytelling series: “Saucy Southern Stories.” The Amazon links for her books may be found on her website: brookecoxstories.com. Please feel free to contact her. She would love to hear from you.