I am at Emergency Exit

I already marked this day 19 December 2009, since 6 months ago, when I bought the promotional ticket for my annual hometown holiday. I flew on Saturday afternoon from Jakarta to Surabaya, then my brother would pick me up at the airport for another 1 hour trip by car to my hometown, Mojokerto.



On that Saturday afternoon the plane boarded at scheduled time. Just before I boarded the plane, suddenly the airline officer changed my seat from 27F (which was given when I checked in) to 14F. When I took my seat, it just occurred to me that they put me next to the plane emergency exit. So during the safety demonstration, the stewardess politely and specifically asked me and the other man sat at the opposite aisle," Are you willing to open the emergency exit closest to your seat during emergency landing?". To this question, of course I said yes, while staring at the written instruction below the hatch, asking to myself whether I had enough power to pull the hatch open should I do have to open the emergency exit.



Emergency exit is only used during emergency situation, and it is the only hope available at that moment to find safety. It's a great responsibility to be chosen as a person who's given authority to open the emergency exit. But this one question asked by the stewardess made me think again. She specifically asked whether I am willing to open the door...what if I said no I don't want to open it? Maybe she and all passengers in that plane would glare at me for purposely attempted to delay the flight!



Sometimes God has asked me to open emergency exit to people around me. Sometimes I said yes, but many times I said no Lord, maybe later, or it's not a good time yet. Emergency exit leads to safety and a chance to live again. Many times in my ignorance I just do not show other people the emergency exit they need so badly, even when I'm sitting so close to the exit door.



When we pay more attention, there are many people around us desperately looking for emergency exit. we just need to increase our sensitivity to His voice. Maybe for one person his emergency exit was a friend's prayer, or just a phone call asking how she's doing, or a simple birthday wishes, or sharing about the source of eternal hope..Jesus. If we are willing to pull the hatch open, God will give us the person in need and He will guide us how to open the emergency exit for them.



Lord, thanks for putting me so close to the emergency exit. I am willing to pull the hatch to open the door.....for Your loved ones.