The Flight Instructor

First Lesson: Isaiah 40: 21-31
Responsive Reading: Psalm 147: 1-11, 20
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 9: 16-23
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 1: 29-39

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Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.”-Psalm 143:8. 

Francis Scott Key was born in 1779 in Fredrick County, Maryland[1].  Key was the son of an officer in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.  Key was a lawyer by profession[2].  In the year 1814, the War of 1812 was going strong.  The War was not going good for the United States.  Much of Washington D.C. including the White House, the Capitol were in flames; many government officials had fled the city[3].  While the scene was taking place, Francis Scott Key was onboard a British warship seeking to secure the release of a close friend of President James Monroe[4].  On this night, though Fort McHenry in Chesapeake Bay was under attack by the British.  If Fort McHenry fell the city of Baltimore would probably be next and the new nation possibly with it. So Key was unable to leave the ship till the battle was over.  So Key slept, figuring he would learn the battle’s outcome in the morning upon seeing what flag (American or British) flew on top Fort McHenry[5]. 

The next morning by the dawn’s early light, the American flag over Fort McHenry that Key hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming continued to fly.  Key who also enjoyed poetry began writing a poem about what he had witnessed.  Key showed the poem to a few friends, and soon a local Baltimore newspaper published its words in conjunction with a popular tavern tune.  Key’s “Star-Spangled Banner” was a hit. 

Here’s what you might not know about our National Anthem.  Sporting events like our Super Bowl later today, only recite the first verse.  The Star-Spangled Banner has four verses.  The fourth verse might be the most interesting[6].  Let me read the final lines of the Star-Spangled Banner:
“Then conquer we must, when our cause is just; And this be our motto, “In God is our Trust.”

Key based his words on Psalm 143[7].  Francis Scott Key was a man of deep faith.  He grew up a devout Episcopal[8].  He nearly became a priest instead of a lawyer.  He was a long-time member of the American Bible Society.  Key was influential in the founding of multiple Episcopal seminaries[9].  As passionate as Key was about his country, Key wanted to remember forever that the only source that he could ultimately trust in, even as he saw horrific bombings all around him, was his God. 

Key’s life leads us into the tale of a seemingly unrelated character the Mother in Law of Simon Peter.  We hear her story within our Gospel lesson for Today from Mark 1[10].

Our lesson takes place immediately after Jesus heals the man possessing a demon at the synagogue in Capernaum[11].  After the service gets done, Simon Peter and Andrew invite Jesus and the rest of the Disciples to their nearby home to get something to eat.  Now Simon Peter’s mother in law had been sick; she had been bed-ridden.  Simon Peter and Andrew explain the situation to Jesus.  Jesus walks into her presence, takes her by the hand, her fever was gone, and she then manages to serve Jesus and all the Disciples dinner.  Simon Peter and Andrew had just seen something pretty dramatic with the demoniac-cleansing, now they see Jesus heal in their lives in a much, more personal way within their Mother-in-Law. 
The stories of Francis Scott Key and Simon Peter’s Mother-In-Law showcase something to us about the nature of trust.  All of us in this life have our unique share of problems, might be relationship problems, health problems, or money problems.  We often think we know the best way to handle these problems; we might even pray to God saying how our problems can be gone[12].  The thing that makes trusting in God so difficult is his ways are often not our ways[13]. 

Jake Olson was twelve years old and diagnosed with Cancer of the Retinas[14].  Olson’s eyes were going to need to be removed, and he was going to be blind going forward.  Olson’s favorite thing in the world was the USC Trojans Football team.  Olson’s final wish before losing his sight was to see the Trojans play one last time before going blind.  Word of Olson’s wish reaches the coach at the time, Pete Carroll, Olson becomes a fixture at practices and on the sidelines during games.  He draws attention for his ability to encourage the Trojans even with what he’s enduring[15].  Olson has his surgery loses his eyes.  Olson becomes a recipient of a seeing-eye dog.

Olson goes through high-school[16].  Olson becomes a member of his high-school football team.  Olson becomes the team’s long-snapper.  Long-snapping is dependent on muscle memory more so than strength or eye-sight.  Olson had to trust he knew how his teammates would ultimately line-up, or such a thing would be impossible for a blind player.  Olson would run onto the field by grabbing one of his teammate's shoulders[17].

Olson, as he always wanted to, attends USC.  Olson decides that he’s going to try to get onto the football team.  USC is year-in-year-out, one of the best teams in the entire country.  Olson knows the only way he could ever play is as a long-snapper, for two seasons, he practices with the team never getting into a game. 
Coach Clay Helton knew how much his now teammates loved Olson[18].  He made it a goal of getting Olson into a game.  The problem was Olson could be badly hurt by large college athletes in such a setting.  Helton hatches a plan; he contacts the coach of an upcoming opponent then agrees to give them a free kick if they give Olson the chance to do the same.  September 1st, 2017 against the Western Michigan Broncos Jake Olson’s impossible dream becomes a reality.  Olson makes a perfect snap, 90,000 people go wild.  Olson describes the moment as such: “If you can’t see how God works things out, then I think you’re the blind one[19].”
Trust that God will work things out for a greater good as in the case of Jake Olson can be really tough sometimes.  It’s tough to believe your God is going to come through watching your home getting bombed by one of the world’s greatest military powers like Francis Scott Key.  It’s tough to believe when you’re like Simon Peter seeing your Mother-In-Law getting sicker and sicker day after day.  Jesus came through in all these individuals’ life as unlikely as it seemed at the time!

Our lesson for Today closes with word of Jesus’ deeds spreading.  The whole village brings people to see Jesus at sunrise[20].  What’s amazing about this scene is so many people had the faith and trust to bring the sick out of their homes believing that Jesus possessed the power to save them.  People were being carried on cots by multiple people wishing for not only healing but ultimately hope[21].

Our situation with Jesus is different than the people that Jesus encounters in Galilee in our lesson.  We don’t often encounter such direct answers to our predicaments.  Our prayers are seemingly met with silence[22].  We wonder through the course of the night how might the morning after the bombings of our life ultimately look. 

What does trust in God within our lives ultimately look?  Let me close with one final story; Pastor James Brown was a Baptist preacher down in Louisiana[23].  Years earlier, Pastor Brown had wanted to take up flying airplanes.  One day while up in the air for a lesson, the instructor gives the strangest of requests.  “I want you to put the plane in a steep and extended dive.  Fly the plane like you intend to crash it.”  Pastor Brown was confused, but he does what he’s told figuring the instructor had a point he wished to illustrate.  Even Pastor Brown couldn’t believe what happened next.  The engine began to stall, the plane began to plunge out of control, and the instructor just sat there not responding.  Pastor Brown began to panic but soon figured out how to get the plane back on course[24].

Pastor Brown got was quite mad at his instructor for pulling the following stunt.  At which point the Instructor looks at him as calm as can be to say “There is no position you can get this airplane into that I cannot get you out of. If you want to learn to fly, go up there and do it again[25]." 

Pastor Brown at this moment had a Spiritual Epiphany that would never leave him.  “Remember this. As you serve Me, there is no situation you can get yourself into that I cannot get you out of. If you trust me, you will be all right[26].” The lesson of Pastor Brown’s Flight Instructor is the point of our lesson for Today. No matter what you’re going through today as in the case of Francis Scott Key, Jake Olson, or Simon Peter’s Mother in- Law, even the presence of death itself, our God who hanged upon a cross can get you out of it.   “In God is our Trust.” The Cross of Christ shall endure forever!  Amen




[1] “Francis Scott Key.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 9.Jan.2018. Web. Jan. 25.2018. 
[2]  “Francis Scott Key.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
[3] Stier, Pastor Leon. “In God We Trust.” Email Meditations. 14. Mar. 2017. Web. Jan.24.2018.   
[4] Stier, Pastor Leon. “In God We Trust.”
[5] Stier, Pastor Leon. “In God We Trust.”
[6] “The Star Spangled Banner.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 22. Jan.2018. Web. Jan.24.2018. 
[7] Psalm 143:8. 
[8] “Francis Scott Key.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
[9] “Francis Scott Key.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
[10] Mark 1:29-39. 
[11] Zingale, Tim. “Let Go, Let God.” Sermon Central. 30.Jan.2006. Web. Jan.24.2018. 
[12] Zingale, Tim. “Let Go, Let God.”
[13] Isaiah 55:8. 
[14] Moriaty, Morgan. “8 of the coolest parts from the incredible Jake Olson story.” SB Nation. Vox Media. 7.Oct.2017. Web. Jan.24.2018. 
[15] Moriaty, Morgan. “8 of the coolest parts from the incredible Jake Olson story.”
[16] Moriaty, Morgan. “8 of the coolest parts from the incredible Jake Olson story.”
[17] Plaschke, Bill. “USC long snapper Jake Olson delivers in a key moment — 'Certain things are bigger than the game'. Los Angeles Times. 2. Sept.2017. Web. Jan.24.2018. 
[18] Plaschke, Bill. “USC long snapper Jake Olson delivers in a key moment — 'Certain things are bigger than the game'.
[19] Plaschke, Bill. “USC long snapper Jake Olson delivers in a key moment — 'Certain things are bigger than the game'.
[20] Mark 1:37. 
[21] Zingale, Tim. “Let Go, Let God.”
[22] Zingale, Tim. “Let Go, Let God.”
[23] Brown, Pastor James.  Evangeline Baptist Church, Wildsville, LA. Discoveries. Fall, 1991, Vol. 2, No. 4. Taken from Sermonillustrations.com on Jan.25.2018. 
[24] Pastor James Brown. Sermonillustrations.com.
[25] Pastor James Brown. Sermonillustrations.com.
[26] Pastor James Brown. Sermonillustrations.com.