“Venomous snakes were being ferried from Africa to Europe in a plane. Unfortunately the person who packed the snakes forgot to lock the box in which the snakes were put. Once the plane had taken off and responding to the movement of the plane, the snakes found their way out of the box. Passengers in the plane could see various snakes on the isle. They screamed, some fainted and the brave ones sought refugee wherever they could within the plane.”
The air hostess ran to the pilot to inform him of this scary incident. The pilot quickly informs the air controllers on the ground. “We are very sorry, says his boss. We forgot to lock the box where we put the snakes. They are indeed some of the most poisonous snakes in the world”.
“So where can I land? Please advise me before passengers are bitten”, asks the shaken pilot.
“No do not land, stay there for a minute, let me think”, advises the boss. Surely this sounds like stupid advice to the impatient pilot. But he has to follow the orders. A minute is too long for someone faced with such trouble he thinks. But he has to follow orders.
After a minute, the boss contacts him. “At what altitude are you flying? He asks. “300″, says the pilot. “Go higher”, advises the boss. “But the snakes will….” Before he finishes his sentence the boss bellows “I said go higher!!”. He complies. Now what’s your altitude? Asks the boss. “500.66″, answers the shaken pilot.
“Go higher”. “But sir…..”. “I said, go higher, captain.” He complies. By now the snakes are all over the plane, even one male member of the cabin crew collapses. It is unbearable. A few have been bitten and have instantly died. But still, the majority keeps on seeking refugee.
“Now captain, keep on going higher”, says the boss. The pilot complies and keeps on going higher and higher. “Now what’s your altitude?”, asks the pilot.. “I am reaching 1200″, replies the pilot. “Now I am on 1200″, he says quickly. “Now stay there. Tell the cabin crew that at this altitude the snakes are now harmless. They can just pick them up with their hands and return them to the box and this time they should not forget to lock.”, advises the boss.
This is true. One cabin crew member tries holding one snake. It is numb and harmless. Soon it is a game within the plane with passengers, some for the first time holding snakes in their hands and returning them to the box. “Look at this black mamba, it was really after me. Now I can even throw it and catch it like a ball”, says one passenger even throwing and catching the black mamba. This was the end of the seemingly dangerous ordeal in the plane. Even those who had fainted were resuscitated and they gained consciousness.
Now what is the lesson of the story?
In 2011, the snakes or problems of 2010 will follow you. However there is need for you to increase your altitude in prayer. And surely, there is a certain point in praying that you reach and this is the point when even the most seemingly unconquerable problems are defeated; they lose power. Insha’Allah !
(* A freelance writer, motivator based in KSA, can be reached at kaunaingayawi@gmail.com)
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