Beyond the Clouds by Fr. Jacob Nampudakam, S.A.C. | Page 88

time. Such evasiveness serves as a license to carrying on with our present
lifestyles and models of production and consumption. This is the way human
beings contrive to feed their self-destructive vices: trying not to see them,
trying not to acknowledge them, delaying the important decisions and
pretending that nothing will happen.”
Hence, read the signs of the times. It is there “we can see that things are now
reaching a breaking point, due to the rapid pace of change and degradation;
these are evident in large-scale natural disasters as well as social and even
financial crises, for the world’s problems cannot be analyzed or explained in
isolation… if we scan the regions of our planet, we immediately see that
humanity has disappointed God’s expectations.”
When we are young, the years seem to pass very slowly. The first 30 years are
like the take off and transcendence through the clouds. The next 30-40 mark
gaining the right altitude, and the cruising speed at which the bulk of the
distance is covered. The final 20 years are a time for the preparation for the
landing, and the wheels finally touching down. Destination arrived! The start
is filled with energy and expectations, and the landing is often marked by
fatigue. Of course, there is the joy of meeting our dear ones and of
homecoming. For a believer in God, this is the ultimate arrival home: life in
the presence of God.
Have we reflected on the role of the plane’s wheels in our journey? They take
the impact of several tons of weight, roll down on the runway, then let us go.
They vanish into its belly, and reappear out of nowhere to re-establish our
contact with the real world. Just imagine if these wheels did not come out of
their resting place! May God be merciful!
In some ways, these wheels have the function of our parents, loved ones, and
friends who help us take off and fly. When we land upon harsh realities of life,
they are once again by our side to absorb the pressure and lead us home.
The musing on the air pocket is meant to help us reflect on the unexpected
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