From the Pastor's Desk
Reverend David Kaul
“ Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. ”
- 1 Corinthians 16:13,14
Lent and Defining Moments of faith!
Dear friends in Christ,
The harsh tragedy in the human suffering and death caused by Haiti's earthquake is being eased by the responses of aid and medicine. Devastating moments in human history can call forth great human courage and compassion, heroism and resolve. They can become defining moments of the best or worst in human character and faith in God. Each day new stories emerge that tell of the selfless acts of medical staff, rescue crews and Haitian people.
Another defining moment came in the post World War 2 allies response to the Soviet Union's blockade of Berlin. Even before World War 2 ended, the Soviet Union was trying to control as much of Europe as possible. When there was a conflict over the French, English and Americans introducing a common currency in their West German occupation zones, the Russians halted all highway and rail traffic going into Berlin throwing up the blockade. The only way to supply the people with food, blankets, clothes, coal was by air. While Gen. Lucius Clay said, "It was impossible!" President Harry Truman sent a dispatch to Gen. Clay, "We have ordered our planes all over the world to fly to Europe. You have our full support. God bless Berlin."
The mission was risky for the thousands of pilots and crew, mostly British and American who would supply Berlin for the rest of the year and into 1949. In winter when fog settled over the city, pilots and air controllers had to cope with "zero-zero" conditions. No forward visibility and no sight on the ground until the wheels touched down. Eighty servicemen and civilians - more British than American- would die.
A third airport was built from the city's rubble largely by German housewives. They worked to construct the airport from the rubble of wartime bombings. They worked dressed sometimes in bathing suits, sometimes in heels and Sunday best, whatever clothes they happened to own.
"Wheelbarrow" people repaired existing runways at each airport even as planes were landing. They ran for the sides when a plane was about to touch down, then scurried out to fill the runway holes left by the punishing traffic rushing to complete their task before the next plane popped out of the low cloud cover. For pilot training, an airport mockup was built in Great Falls, Montana complete with an air corridor like they would find in Berlin. Sometimes they would land their planes loaded with supplies a mere 17 feet from an apartment building! By Spring, the aircraft had delivered 2,325, 809 tons of food, clothing, coal and candy. The Soviets agreed to lift the blockade on West Berlin on May 12, 1949.
There are moments in our lives when we must face obstacles that call for courage, to stand firm in our faith, allowing love to guide our every act. They define our character, person and faith in God. I pray That God is with you as you face the challenges of your life.
In His love,
P. Dave