Be Who You Are

This poem won the Laurel Crown award in 2009 and is published in
DreamCatcher


We all want smooth landings! We seek them in prayer,
With hope and desire in our everyday lives. We want
To do what is right, to succeed, but do we prepare?

The airliner slid into the river easily. Oh, maybe a thud
Or a bump, yet in minutes all the passengers were out.
Many perched on the wings of the huge jet, as it drifted,
Bobbing, sinking slowly into the freezing Hudson River.
Tug boats, ferries,scurried to the rescue. Alert divers
Donned wetsuits, dove into icy waves searching for any
Passenger who might be in the cold, swift, grey water.
Everyone, news reporters, people on the roadsides, the
Mayor of New York CIty, the survivors, their families
Saluted the pilot.  What a wonderful miraculous feat!

Yes, the Lord was with all of them, but it was not a
Mere happenstance. This man was prepared, he had
The skills, he knew where he was, who he was and with
The accumulated knowledge, experience, he never hesitated
About what moves to make.  He was expected to keep his crew
And passengers safe! He simply remained calm. He knew
Who he was, the First Officer, the Captain, pilot and with
No doubts he glided his plane and passengers to safety:
Because he was prepared, because he was ready, and we all
Admired him and praised him for accepting the challenge to
Use his skills, accepting and being who he was meant to be!