Brian Jones and Bertrand Piccard had the hardest decision of their life to make
as they entered the final leg of their journey with Orbiter 3. Bertrand was on
the phone with his wife, his "weather eye," pondering if they should attempt
crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Fuel was low for the 180 foot high Breitling
Orbiter 3 after it had begun its historic journey sailing into the sky 2 weeks
before from Chateau d'Oex, Switzerland. At the rate they were going, they would
never be able to complete the journey.
But his wife was trying to reassure him saying, "If you allow Orbiter 3 to go a
few hundred feet higher, you will catch another jet stream. Just a few hundred
feet," she had pleaded. In desperation, he fired up the burners, obeying her
suggestions. With grandeur, the ship rose to 36,000 feet and into this new jet
stream where the winds were 2-3 times faster, topping 230 miles per hour. They
crossed the Atlantic quickly and soon were over the deserts of the Sahara
landing near Mut, in south-western Egypt. On March 21, 1999, they landed, having
covered 29,055 miles.
With their fuel nearly spent and after riding the winds for 19 days, 21 hours
and 55 minutes, the two pilots--Piccard, a Swiss psychiatrist whose grandfather
invented the pressurized capsule for high-altitude ballooning, and Jones, a
veteran British balloonist--took title to being the first balloonist to
circumnavigate the globe, claiming the $1 million prize.
"Did you sense something spiritual, an awakening or force in your trip?" They
were asked.
"Yes," they responded, but somehow, they could not put their finger on exactly
what it was. They did see Mother Earth releasing her dew and fragrance to
nurture and sustain earth's creatures. Yes, they were overwhelmed and captivated
by the closing scenes of the sand dunes in the desolate Sahara Desert. Yes, they
were in awe that something symmetric, sovereign and stupendous had to design
this creation. Yet, they could not put their finger on exactly what it was. St.
Augustine agreed when he wrote:
"If something cannot be explained, it most likely is God-designed."
Just a few hundred feet higher. That's what did it! That's what could make it
for you as well when you decide to sail past your limits and see a new life in
God. Just a little higher and you may sense the finger of God working within
your life, your capsule. If you step out in faith, spend just a little more fuel
and reach just a little higher, you can reach that jet stream.
You may be in the closing scenes of your desolate Sahara Desert but God can do a
great wonder within you if you but ask Him into your life and take charge or
control. It may be the hardest decision in your life but the prize is well worth
it. This quote may be yours: If something cannot be explained, it most likely is
God-designed. He is symmetric, sovereign and stupendous!
Contributed by George Prins.
Thanks to Daily Wisdom
Majordomo@gospelcom.net
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.