ME FIRST?

If you have ever traveled by air, you know that just before take-off a flight attendant will remind passengers of the safety and emergency features on the plane. First it is very important that everyone fasten their seat belt properly. It will keep you snug in your seat for take-off and landing and also prevent you from being thrown around the plane in case of turbulence. Next, the emergency exits are pointed out. Children, weak or ill passengers are asked to allow those who are stronger to sit next to the emergency exits. This insures that in the event of an emergency, the person responsible will be able to open the exit and allow passengers to leave in an orderly fashion. You are instructed on how to use your seat as a flotation device, to keep your carry-on bag stowed under the seat or in the overhead compartment and to make sure your tray-table is fastened in the up-right position. One of the safety features that is most important but probably most ignored during the entire instruction period is the oxygen mask.

The flight attendant holds the mask as if it is dangling and declares, “in case of a loss of pressure in the cabin, an oxygen mask will fall from a compartment directly above each passenger.” The passenger is shown the proper way to place the band around his head, the mask over his nose and mouth and adjust the band securely. The most important instruction, however, is, “Make sure you secure your mask first, then assist any child or person unable to secure their mask. As a mother this does not compute. My first thought is always my child’s safety. I would throw myself in front of a speeding car, run without thought into a burning building, or dive into the deep end of a pool to rescue my child. After further contemplation of this me-first concept, I realized that I will be in no position to assist anyone if I have not first secured my own life-saving device.

In a spiritual sense, how many times have I attempted to adjust a mask for a friend when my own mask is dangling from my neck and I am gasping for air. As my friend breathes in the breath of God, I feel faint and weak and can’t understand why. Our children search for moral absolutes, can’t tell the difference between right and wrong and embrace tolerance instead of truth, as we feebly drag them to church once a month and search for a dusty Bible among videos and computer games. We fellowship with friends who will affirm us rather than pray for us all the while our “oxygen” levels continue to diminish. Finally, the life saving mask is no longer around our neck, it is lost among all the “stuff” in our life that takes center stage. There is a nagging memory of the power of God in our lives but the lack of air confuses us to the point we can no longer help ourselves. We have become the one in need of assistance and pray that God sends along a strong brother or sister to help us once again secure the mask.

Whether you have been called to assist a child, brother, sister, friend or neighbor, make sure you are full of the Holy Ghost, constantly inhaling the life-giving breath of God. Then He will give you the wisdom and clarity to minister to those who don’t have the strength and maturity to breathe on their own. If you have become too faint to assist others, allow God to put someone in your life to adjust your mask and soon you will be enjoying the life that the Breath of God brings.