Mustard Seed is My Co-Pilot
Posted by Melissa Carter at 5/26/2009 12:34 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: gay Jesus Christian Bert Show flying to Bert Show Q100 flying a God lesbian flying
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: gay Jesus Christian Bert Show flying to Bert Show Q100 flying a God lesbian flying
I don't usually talk about religion and my own faith, but you have to agree that nothing will make you grip a cross faster than a little bit of fear. Or like in my case....grab the Mustard Seed.
For those unfamiliar with Christian beliefs, there is a scripture in the Bible (Matthew 17:20) that says:
And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.
Mama Jo has a Mustard Seed necklace. It is a necklace that contains an actual Mustard Seed. Katie Jo's Mom is a Southern Baptist who has total belief in this small symbol of faith, so she encouraged me to take it along on my recent trip to L.A. with the Bert Show. I did as she asked and dropped it in a pocket of my carry-on.
The initial flight to L.A. was bumpy leaving the Southern storms of the day, but smoothed out for most of the trip. On approach to LAX things seemed fine. Engines were low and we were easing down into the smog. Then, despite listening to the plane's XM feed in loud headphones, the engines roared to a deafening level and the plane shot straight UP into the sky.
The Xanax in my system seemed to disappear, my lips and hands went numb, and the flop sweat began. That's when the pilot announced through the speaker that there had apparently been some separation issue between us and another plane, and that we would be on the ground in about 15 minutes. Get me out of this damn thing now, I thought.
That was Saturday.
Sunday the Bert Show got together that evening in one of our hotel rooms (on the 25th floor, by the way, for dramatic effect later on) to produce some segments for the next day's show when things began to shake. I thought a laundry or trash bin was being wheeled down the hallway and thought nothing of it until Jeff announced it was an earthquake. Sure enough, we soon learned a 4.7 quake had hit an area not far from downtown L.A. where we were. Here's where I will repeat we were on the 25th floor with really nowhere to go.
Upon reporting these events back to Atlanta, Mama Jo asked if I had my Mustard Seed. I said it was still in my bag and she said I had to wear the necklace for it to work properly. I laughed it off. How ridiculous was the idea that my not wearing that chain caused these things to happen. Then I learned there were aftershocks a couple days later as we were heading to the "American Idol" finale. I made a mental note to wear that sacred jewelry on my flight home.
At week's end I flew from Los Angeles to Jacksonville to meet Katie for Memorial Day weekend, with a brief stop in Atlanta. Those were two of the best flights I had ever been on.
Did the Mustard Seed bring Divine intervention in my travels, or is Coincidence actually be the stronger religion? Regardless I know I won't be leaving that Mustard Seed in my bag anymore, and will say unto that plane get me from here to there smoothly....and hope, no believe, it will be possible.
I once again enjoyed your beautiful writing! So glad you had safe trips...you keep that mustard seed close from now on!!!
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My partner feels much the same about flying as you do. After our commitment ceremony we went to Las Vegas for a honeymoon. It took 2 xanax, 2 irish coffees (hold the coffee) and a rum and coke to get us there from Atlanta. Maybe I can find a talisman for her as well....
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Melissa - I was ready to send you a link to my blog post for today when I saw this post of yours. How fortuitous...
I just wanted to let you know that your presence on the Bert Show has profoundly impacted the way I view gay and lesbian couples, and I wanted to pass along my blog link to show you how much I've changed.
I used to be a Southern Baptist pastor - still am, actually, just not serving in a pulpit right now - and I used to be very much against all things gay.
You, with your prudence, wisdom and winsome demeanor, helped change that and show me that I had a lot of growing to do as a person.
Blessings on your day.
And here's the blog link:
http://southerngent.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/should-proposition-8-have-been-overturned/
Thanks, Jason
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