One of the churches where I served was having a Celebrate America Festival. We anticipated hundreds to show up for these events and we were typically overwhelmed at the number of celebrators. This happened on several acres of recreation land across the street from the church. We had games and hot dogs, cotton candy and popcorn, patriotic decorations and American flags, but we were really excited about having hot air balloon rides that year. We had hired the balloon company and sent the deposit months in advance and added them prominently to the publicity. They told us they would come a couple of hours early to set up the day of the festival. When the day arrived for Celebrate America, two hours before, no balloon. We did not panic, these people were obviously professionals, we were confident they would get it all set up. Then an hour before, no hot air balloon. We were a little nervous, because we had advertised the balloon rides as a major attraction and counted on the balloon as additional advertising. It would make our festival more visible from the interstate and impact the number of people we had the chance to interact with. But if the balloon with a giant basket below didn’t show, the spirits of the people who came to see it would fall like a lead zeppelin (not to be confused with a British rock band formed in the late 60’s). If our big balloon ballyhoo was unrealized we could be considered untrustworthy in our advertising, just a lot of hot air about hot air balloon rides, which is not great for a church. We hoped to get to know some of these people who came to visit. And we hoped to introduce them to Jesus as they became more curious, convinced, and convicted by God’s Spirit, if they didn’t already know Him. So, thirty minutes before the crowds arrived, still no balloon. We panicked and prayed. We repeatedly tried calling the cell phone of the balloon pilot, but no answer. We were trying to come up with words of apology to the guests looking for balloon rides and then just before the event started, a large dually Ram truck showed up with a balloon and basket in the back. As we arrived, frowning and excitedly asking why they hadn’t arrived earlier as promised or answered our phone calls, the truck driver looked at us with surprise and said “We don’t know what you are talking about. We were just driving by your festival on the interstate and we were coming to ask you if we could offer balloon rides to your guests…” Sure enough the name on the side of the truck was not the company we had hired, but God had heard our prayers and sent some random balloon owner to drive his fabric and basket filled Ram by our event at just the right time. The non-dirigible airship, tethered by a strong rope to the Ram truck, went up and down in the softball field all afternoon and into the night to the delight of 100’s of our Celebrate America guests 3 or 4 at a time. We thanked them and sent them a check for their services.
We were all surprised by this coincidence that was really a God-incident. We can get so worried about all the plans we make. When Jesus started his ministry, He told us to keep our focus on God first and not worry about all these things we get so worked up and anxious about. He tells us, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33–34)God provides what we need, even hot air balloons occasionally. Interestingly, the truck didn’t come early to the festival and it wasn’t late either, it came just at the right time. Jesus' half brother James reminds us, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10) We were humbled that day by the seeming evaporation of our big plans, but God lifted us back up with His miraculous provision… we were exhausted but walking on air…
Hang in there people! God is glad to be with us! I’m praying for us all!
(not a pic from our event, but photo credit to rohrballoons.com)