The Trip Through The Thunderclouds

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,

to meet the Lord in the air:

and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:17

Whenever I think about 'meeting the Lord in the air', I remember a flight I was on a few years ago between JFK airport, NY and Buffalo airport, NY. I was in one of those smaller planes that has one aisle with two seats in each row and about 12 rows (?). Those are the ones in which you feel like you're in an 'old' plane - and you wonder if it will make it to the next airport!

I was by the window and a man sat beside me on the aisle. He ordered a drink because he was nervous. I got a soda because I was thirsty.

We took off on time, but the pilot said our time of arrival might be delayed due to the weather conditions. Nothing unusual so far. I was just along for the ride.

We weren't in the air 10 minutes when we began to experience turbulance. The guy next to me was starting to make stressing sounds and he reached for 'the bag'. I had never been close to anyone who had motion sickness in a plane before, so I tried to be interested elsewhere. It didn't take much effort though, because as I looked out my window, I found that we were not under the weather conditions, nor were we above the weather conditions. We were flying right through the middle of the thunder heads and it was AMAZING!
I became mesmorized by the formations which made our plane seem like a toy. It felt like I was in a video game and with the vibrations the plane was experiencing, it felt like we were on a track instead of in the air, which just added more to the whole experience of feeling like we were in another world of some kind. We were cruising through this world of snow white caves and mountains, past huge outcroppings and along a landscape that was breath taking!

Periodically, my mind would register with 'reality' - my soda glass held high in the air so as not to spill - I held it in the air the entire trip! My cheeks were getting sore from the huge grin stuck on my face. The man next to me was making very strange sounds and filling 'the bag'.

Mostly though, my attention was fixed on the 'other worldiness' outside my window and my mind was totally alive to imaginings like I'd never before experienced - even as a child!

Well, all that to say, it was an experience I will never forget. I saw the 'heavens' in a way that I'm sure few people ever do, and since then, I've thought many times about 'meeting the Lord in the air'. What will the sky be like on that day? Will we experience clouds in heaven like that? How long will we be there - in the air? Will my imagination be as free or more so - it was exhilerating to think, imagine and feel all that I did with such glorious intensity and freedom!

Now, whenever I see thunderheads in the sky, I long to be able to ascend and fly through them. Each time I take a trip, I hope to have another opportunity to fly through that 'world' again.

On Wednesday, I'm flying to see my sister, and I'm sure you know what I've been dreaming of!

Can anyone else relate? Has anyone else had a similar experience or similar desire?