The seemingly interminable toddling, rumbling, tumbling roll from our gate to the runway finally finished, the airliner’s jets crescendo to a bone-trembling roar as our safety-instructing flight attendants are still settling in to jump-seats fore and aft. Since I am not an astronaut, do not stunt-drive in Bourne movies, and fly only infrequently, the subsequent sensation is exhilarating: the invisible force pressing me into my window seat as acceleration builds the frequency of the occasional thumps accompanying our launch down the runway, and the sudden silence of the landing gear’s whine as we escape the ground and begin our equally impressive climb.
Finally at altitude, I look out my window over the wing, the sole connection between the engine’s power and the fuselage in which I am resting. Where I expect pristine evidence of 21st century mankind’s power over nature, I see instead peeled paint, dented sheet metal, burred screw heads, and what I can only surmise is the equivalent of liquid paper covering up imperfections deemed important enough to, well, cover up.
I am as stupefied by how much power is in those engines as I am curiously amused by the many imperfections of the wings they propel. Paul tells the Corinthians that the resurrection’s power is what ultimately matters, overcoming the inherent weight of our mortality, along with the peels, dents, burrs, and cover-ups of our nature.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh” (2 Corinthians 4:7-11).
We attend to success and talent, shine and paint, afraid suffering and weakness will keep us from arriving at God’s destination, or from conveying others to his grace. As it turns out, what matters most is the overwhelming power of the resurrection.
To a week grateful that the risen Savior perfects imperfect messengers.