LAE AIRFIELD, NEW GIUNEA - 1943
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Nothing here is AI generated.
"General Mac Arthur and I are at the Lae, New Guinea American Air Base with a unique and important Battle Story."
"Correct General Pettygree. We are at the beginning of the Allied advance pushing back the deepest southerly penetration of The Empire of Japan."
"Read on Ladies and Gentlemen as we listen in."
"Lae Tower. This is Badger 1. I'm damaged an' comin' in."
Captain Ballard jumped to the radio operator saying, "Sparks, redirect him to Salamaua."
"Badger 1, This is Lae. Negative. I say again. Negative. Proceed to Salamaua." He added. "We've been attacked, the runway is a shambles and now too short. Do not...."
"No choice Tower," said Badger 1."I must land."
"Sparks, Radio the ambulance to the field and tell that pilot we'll be ready," ordered Ballard.
The ambulance arrived at the end of the runway. It was the only available undamaged section. The problem was Badger 1 had insufficient room to land and stop. Plus, a Zero shot down earlier was on fire posing another threat if it exploded.
Wielding a wrench, Tiny asked, "He ain't gonna land, is he?"
Medic Smitty exclaimed, "It's impossible!"
Additional help came out of cover to offer assistance.
"Do you see him, Murph?"
"Yeah, Shorty. He'll never make it. There he is."
"Badger 1. This is Lae. Beware of the drop off at the tree line," warned Sparks.
"I see it Tower. - Gear down. - You got any Blatz beer?"
"Nah. How 'bout a Schlitz?," countered Sparks.
"You're on, Sparks!," said Badger 1.
"Steady," coaxed Badger.
"I hope my landing gear doesn't collapse. There isn't much room is there?," Badger rhetorically thought. "Another twenty yards and...."
"Down. Fuel gone. Still too fast. This is gonna be close! Help me Lord," prayed Badger.
"Running behind a White Scout Car, Murph shouted, "Look, he made it! Holee' cow!
Nobody noticed the Zero slowly slipping over the cliff edge.
Clambering aboard the left side of the P-40, Tiny shouted, "Hey Buddy! Open the canopy!"
Seconds later, Badger exited his smoking aircraft, alive and well. All heard him thank his rescuers and God for deliverance.
Meanwhile, Murph, Shorty and their Papuan allies jogged to the cliff. Not long after, the Zero fell disappearing to the jungle floor below. The pilot was nowhere to be found, presumed dead. He didn't make it out alive.
"He shouldn't have bothered us, eh, Murph?," offered Shorty.
"Yeah," said Murph. "Let's go. We've got some clean-up to do on the runway."
"Well Sparks. I didn't believe he would land with so little runway room left and not careen over the cliff. Physics is physics. A P-40 no matter how well handled can not stop in that short of a space. I wonder how he managed it," wondered Ballard aloud.
"One a wing and a prayer, Sir," said Sparks. "On a wing and a prayer."
At the cliff edge, Badger silently prayed, "There must be more You want me to do. Thank You, again, Lord."
A TIME FOR INTROSPECTION?
1. Badger 1 offers a metaphorical story to consider. He did not have much runway left before the very high probability of pitching over the cliff like the enemy pilot. Certainly it is true for me. How much runway do I have left before everything ends here? And what will I do with unknown time remaining? How about you?
2. Listen to young Fr. Mark Goring's take:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpWSSO7yr6E
3. Are we setting our relationship with God aside in a condition of minimalism or do we think He is a fable to be a totally ignored waste of time. I understand. In both cases there are better bets to place to provide for the life hereafter.
4. Ignoring God or anyone has negatives. Unanswered questions, guilt, pain, and little time for resolution. We spend an average of 8-9 hours daily on electronic screens. We walk alone or with our children and dogs scrolling/texting. We eat with them stealing precious time from loved ones and friends. We can't stand the silence of our own thoughts and we can't hear whispers from God inviting us to pay attention to Him and develop the relationship He desires because we have no time. Or we block Him out.
5. Many don't believe in God or do not trust. I understand. Years ago I heard the antidote. It went something like this.
"God, I don't know if you exist. My reason tells me you do not. So does conventional wisdom. My friends might think I'm crazy if I inquire. However, if you really exist, I honestly ask you to please show me."
He will show you in the form of people speaking with you, by reading, by considering the 2,000 year duration of Christianity when nothing else has survived that long, by honest analysis, prayer, attending Church and listening for whispers. I invite you to try it.
Stop listening to negative people about this. Badger did. He landed safely with heavenly help.
6. How much time do you have left before landing at the end of your runway? - Place your bets.
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