Without a purpose, our lives soon run out of fuel

In 1991, during an Air Canada flight, and while passengers were enjoying an in-flight movie on the Boeing 767, the jumbo jet's engines abruptly stopped. At first only those without earphones on noticed anything. However, soon the entire group of passengers realized the jet was in trouble. Their greatest fears were confirmed when the pilot came on the speaker system and announced that Flight 143 would be making an emergency landing.

For several minutes there was an eerie silence in the plane. Unless we've been in a similar situation, we probably cannot imagine the feelings of those passengers and crew. The cause of the emergency landing was that the electronic digital fuel gauge was out of order. So the flight crew had depended on the figures given them by the refueling crew before takeoff. But someone on the refueling crew had confused pounds with kilograms. Eight hundred miles short of its destination, that big jet simply ran out of fuel and was forced to make an emergency landing. Fortunately no one was injured.

A multi-million dollar airplane, headed in the right direction, but running out of fuel! Sounds as if that could be a parable to be considered today. Statistics point out that many people do not find joy in their work, play, family, or community. Perhaps one of the problems is that we "run out of fuel." I have discovered that life is filled with joy and anticipation when there is someone or something that is dependent on me.

Being involved with community organizations and groups can put energy and new life into our everyday existence. For many, the church provides that outlet for service and creativity. For others, it is simply serving on longterm or short-time projects involving schools, service club organizations, etc. It takes us out of our little worlds and puts us in touch with others who are concerned with being helpful.

As Johnathon Livingston Seagull declared, "How much more there is now to living! Instead of our drab slogging forth and back to the fishing boats, there's a reason to life!"

Our involvement serves a double purpose: It helps others, which in turn, puts energy and purpose into our lives. Perhaps the moral of the story is that we can avoid "running dry" and facing "emergency landings" in our lives by finding the motivations that keep us alert and active as we reach beyond ourselves to serve the needs of others.