On a recent trip, I found myself laughing at the “joys” of flying. First there were the lines that forced people to zigzag through some elastic bands while hauling their carry-ons. And what is the definition of a carry-on? While placing my backpack under my seat, a lady jammed what looked like a small sofa into the overhead bin.

Then a curtain was drawn between the first-class passengers and the folks in back. Next the stewardess went over the flight safety instructions. She was telling us how to be safe, but around me folks were too busy sleeping and paying no attention to what she said.

Life is a series of zigzags, isn’t it? You think you know where you are going, and then Bam!—bad health, death of a loved one, or a breakup turns you in the other direction. When these times occur, we often try to cram things into our overhead bins that aren’t the right fit: pills, porn, or booze. 

Sin separates us, like a curtain, from God, but just as the curtain in the temple was torn apart when Jesus died, now no curtain separates us from God. Christ gives us the safety manual—his life, death, and resurrection. Instead of being distracted by this life, we can focus and listen to his words and will for us. Emergency or not, we have a Life Preserver who is always with us. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).