This sermon is posted by Akkarin on behalf of Senan. We thank him for his contribution!
A few days ago I was watching a Boeing 737 passenger jet come in for a landing as I have done many times before. The skies were clear and the breeze was noticeable, but no worse than usual for this airport.
Just as the rear wheels were about to touch down, a gust of wind rocked the plane slightly to the right causing the wing to dip and the right side tires to hit the runway first. Amidst a white puff of smoke, the right landing gear compressed much more than usual as the left side dropped to the runway hard.
The huge aircraft shimmied back and forth for a moment before returning to a straight and smooth path along the runway. The nose gear touched down lightly and the plane taxied to the gate.
I marveled at the collection of technologies that allowed the plane to land safely, and it caused me to consider the human connection.
I asked myself ‘who designed that landing gear?’ What would have happened if one bolt had not been tightened correctly? Then ‘who constructed those tires so well that they did not blow out?’ Is the pilot especially skilled, or just lucky? Did the air traffic controller warn the pilot of the wind?
Thousands of people were involved in the design, construction and maintenance of that aircraft. That same aircraft was being flown by a pilot and co-pilot who are guided by controllers. Controllers rely on radar and other ingenious instruments built by technicians to guide that plane safely. Had any one of these people failed to pay attention to one small detail during their day, it could have potentially cost the lives of every passenger on that plane or the passengers on hundreds of other planes like it.
This is not to mention those countless individuals who prepare our food, build our homes, police our streets or protect our freedoms.
Each day as we venture out into the universe to complete our assigned or chosen tasks as Jedi, we must always be aware of the impact of our actions. We may potentially hold hundreds of lives in our hands.
Our Teachings tell us that a Jedi trains each day to ensure they remain capable of performing their duties to the best of their ability. Jedi make a commitment to their cause and to humanity. Each action performed, no matter the scale, influences the world. With this in mind Jedi perform each action with peace, caring, love, compassion and humility. So it is that each Jedi improves the world with each deed they perform.
This requires Focus, to select what matters most. A Jedi focuses on the task at hand. Through discipline we know how to select and concentrate on priorities.
As we travel along our various paths, we must always be mindful of the lives we hold in our hands. We must remember that every action, large or small, could potentially impact those around us. We must remain diligent and focused. We must always deliver our best. As Jedi, we should also be mindful of those that hold our lives in their hands and be humbled.
Together we are one in the Force. Ask yourself, ‘whose lives do I hold in my hands?’
