"Miracle on the Hudson"

Dear Friends in Christ:

Thursday, January 15th found many of us glued to our televisions as we watched the compelling images of US Airways Flight 1549 resting in the Hudson River with its passengers standing on its wings. The flight out of New York’s La Guardia Airport was heading for Charlotte, North Carolina, when apparently some birds were sucked into the engines and caused their failure. The pilot made the incredible decision to land on the Hudson River. All 155 passengers and flight crew survived, and the potential for additional loss of life, created by an emergency in a crowded city, was avoided.

The plane floated; the passengers were able to get out and were quickly rescued. The good news was and is that lives were saved. Emergency personnel responded quickly and effectively. All those passengers made it safely home one way or another.

Some have called this “A MIRACLE!” Was it?

A miracle is defined as “a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency or a highly improbable or extraordinary event, development or accomplishment that brings very welcome consequences.”

Regardless, this is good news. It is something that inspires us to say, “Thanks be to God!”

I am writing this article on the eve of the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. He is being sworn into his office at a time in our history when we are facing a depressive economy, high jobless index, and unrest in the Middle East. Do we need more “miracles”? Mr. Obama has said, “I’m asking you to believe. Not just in my ability… I’m asking you to believe in yours.”

I am praying that we as Americans join hands and hearts to seek a better way. This is the time for all of us to stand up and be counted. As we do, I believe good things will happen!

Am I mixing politics and religion? I believe that we are God’s stewards in all things. As followers of Jesus Christ who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” we should always choose to be involved, active, counted, and committed to ”the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness for all.”

Let us celebrate “the miracle” of each day even as we live through our own daily struggles!

Peace, hope, and love to you in this New Year,

—Pastor David Fetter

Note: Infomation taken from Texas Interagency Interfaith Disaster Response newsletter.