The Snake in the Plane

Copyright 2012: singeronthesand

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges

come at you from all sides.  You know that under pressure,

your faith life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.

James 1:1 

When Braden Blennerhassett took off from the Darwin, Australia airport for a cargo run to the far Northern Territories, he never dreamed that he had an extra passenger onboard.  Moments after takeoff, a snake popped its head out of the dashboard of the twin engine plane, scaring the living daylights out of the pilot.  The snake's head was right next to the transmission button Braden needed to push to connect with the Darwin tower, but he was finally able to alert them to his predicament.  They thought he was kidding.

As Mr. Blennerhassett beat a hasty retreat back to the Darwin airport, the snake continued to poke its head out of any available opening in the dash.  Then, as the pilot began his approach to the runway, the snake slithered completely out of the dashboard, onto his lap, then began traveling down his leg.  He later admitted that his heart rate and blood pressure were through the roof by the time the wheels touched down.  Rather than taxi to the hanger area, Braden brought the plane to an abrupt halt, threw open the door, and jumped from the plane - leaving the snake and the craft stranded on the runway.

Anytime adversity raises its ugly head, we have the opportunity to discover exactly what we are made of.  More importantly, in such circumstances we show to the watching world our character, our faith (in God as well as in ourselves), and our coping skills.  Braden Blennerhassett emerged from his experience with the confidence of having escaped the strike of the snake.  My prayer for you (and me!) today is that you will also gain the upper hand over the serpent of hardships and temptation.