Psalm 139:7-10: Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?If I go up to the heavens, you are there;if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.If I rise on the wings of the dawn,if I settle on the far side of the sea,even there your hand will guide me,your right hand will hold me fast.

I suppose we have all been following the accounts of the terrible crash landing of Asiana Flight 214 at San Francisco International Airport last Saturday, injuring 182 of the 307 aboard. Two young women were killed.

Flight attendants said at a press conference that they had no idea anything was out of the ordinary with the landing until the aircraft bumped hard twice and then crashed. The attendants were instrumental in evacuating passengers quickly and probably prevented additional deaths and more serious injuries.

We all know this is imperfect world in which anything can happen unexpectedly. We can be driving or walking along or sitting in our seat at the end of a long routine flight, and something bad can happen. We may be shaken up, or injured or struck down by illness or even die. This is the way life has always been and this is how it will continue to be.

Of course, our lives are filled with uncountable blessings, and we do well to balance this with the reality and possibility of sudden calamity. Our faith and Scripture both affirm that God is with us in the most difficult circumstances, and that nothing can separate us from God’s love and care. Let our hearts be filled with gratitude and thankfulness at the nature of our loving and gracious God!