An Emergency Landing into God’s Arms

Maria V. Gallagher discovers what trust in God really means when she faces a crisis at 30,000 feet.

It started out inauspiciously enough—a routine flight from Dallas-Ft. Worth to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on a typical Saturday night in October.  

Then, on the plane’s sound system, I heard the words that sent my heart into a tailspin.  

It was the captain announcing bad news: one of the plane’s engines was in trouble. The next announcement was chilling—our plane was heading back to Dallas. The pilot and crew had deemed it too dangerous to fly to Pennsylvania because the plane’s de-icing mechanism was not working.   

We were an hour and twenty minutes away from Dallas and from a safe landing spot.   

Many thoughts raced through my head—few of them comforting. The only thing I could think of to bring solace was to repeat the “Hail Mary” in my head, over and over again.  

An hour and twenty minutes’ worth of “Hail Marys”—probably the most I had ever prayed in one sitting.  

The captain next informed us that we were in an emergency situation. Fire trucks, lights blazing, would greet us back at the airport terminal.  

In that moment, thousands of feet above terra firma, I had no choice but to place my entire trust in God.  

I was not in control of the situation. I was barely in control of my own emotions.   

The Almighty Father delivered.   

We landed safely back in Dallas. Once again, I was reminded of the awesome power of God.  

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I had no choice but to place my entire trust in God. #CatholicMom

As I write this, I am on another flight, bound once again for home. I say a silent prayer to my Guardian Angel and hope for the best.  

As one of my prayer partners wisely put it: “Better an emergency landing than the alternative. Trust in God. He had His plans.” 

Copyright 2023 Maria V. Gallagher
Images: Canva