The Fog Below

SMASHWORDS EDITION

A Short Story by

2017 Den Warren

This story may be freely copied as long as the authors

name is included.
 Lets go, Gina said to her four year old son, Brandon as
they boarded the airliner. There was no reason to stay in
Chicago any longer after the hostile divorce. Gina just wanted
to be back home in Fargo, where all of her family was. Were
going on the plane now.

We are? I dont see it.

You can see out the window when we get to our seats,
okay?

Gina found their seats and an older man, who looked very
comfortable, sitting deep into his seat, got up and let them
into the row. She gave Brandon the window seat for his
satisfaction, and to insulate the stranger from his endless
high-energy commotion.

Brandon was fidgeting around and excitedly making

noise.

Gina said, Please sit down. Then she looked at the older
man and said, Sorry, we dont fly much and he is pretty
excited.

Dont worry about it, he said. I dont plan on being

awake much for this flight. Its just a hop and a skip to get to
Fargo.

It wasnt long before the plane taxied to the runway and

went up smoothly like an elevator.

Brandon looked at his mother occasionally with a big

smile and stared out the window.
 Aw, heck, the man said, It says up there on the screen,
fog in Fargo.

Gina said, Really? They have to land in fog?

Yep. I reckon so. Oh well, not much we can do about it.

He leaned back and shut his eyes.

Gina said, Arent you worried?

Yeah, a little. But we will go when it is Gods time.

There was a silence for about a half a minute.

Gina said, So, you are not worried because you say it isnt
Gods time, right?

I didnt say that, exactly. My point was that if it is Gods

time, then he will bring me home to Heaven.

So you think you will be going to Heaven, right?

Co-rect.

There was another silence.

Can I ask you another question?

He looked at Gina with one eye open and said, Sure.

Im a little confused. Not to be mean or anything; but you

seem pretty sure that you will make it to Heaven. Isnt that
Gods decision?

Look, lady . . .

Gina.
 Okay, Gina. You seem like a very nice person and all, but
if you want to ask me about God, then all you are going to do
is get all mad.

No, I am an open minded person.

You sure about that?

Totally.

I guess . . . wait, so are you sure you want to talk about

it? You arent one of those people who will get all mad and the
next thing you know the plane is getting grounded and the air
marshal comes and arrests me?

No, I promise not to get you arrested.

Anyways, I know what you are thinking; that I think I am

so good that God owes me a free pass into His perfect Heaven.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. I have done a whole
lot of wrong. It grieves me when I think about it. But all of us
true Christians are sinners. All people are sinners. We are no
better than you and certainly not better than that handsome
boy of yours. We are just saved by the Grace of God.

Gina had a confused look on her face. I have to be

honest, Mr. . .

Just call me Ben.

Ben, why would I not think what you are saying sounds a
little . . . crazy? What is the Grace of God?

That just means that God sent his Son, Jesus Christ to die
on the Cross for our sins. Jesus was born as a man and at the
same time, God you know. So he never committed a sin in his
life. So He was the perfect sacrifice to die on the Cross for our
sins. All we have to do is accept what He did for us.

Gina said, I have to say, that sounds way too good to be

true. How can it be that simple?

Ben said, God made it that way; so it would be simple.

But too many will not accept His simple plan because they
think it cant be true. God knew we would never be the kind of
perfect it takes to get into His Heaven, so he made his amazing
plan. But was it really that simple? After all, his only Son had
to die on the Cross for us. Of course since He was God, he rose
from the dead and beat death for us. So that is why I am not
worried. My eternal soul is in Gods hands. I mean, I am not in
a hurry to die, but I am in peace, if that makes any sense to
you.

They all sat in silence for about a half an hour. Brandon

stared out of the window and got a package of peanuts from
the flight attendant.

Gina looked at Ben, who certainly looked like he was in

total peace over the impending landing. She started sobbing.
She sniffled and said, Ben, I dont know if we are really in
that much danger right now, but when I think of my life, I
wish it could have been different. Maybe if we would have
been . . . I dont know.

Ben said, Im gonna be plenty blunt right now. You need

to consider your soul. You would do well to pray to God and
ask for His salvation through Jesus. I wouldnt wait another
minute. Once you become a Christian, you will want to study
His Word, and start getting everything right. I testify that this
is what worked for me.
 I want that, Gina said, Will you help me?

It would be an honor of a lifetime, Gina.

So Ben prayed a prayer with Gina, and then told Gina to

ask with her own words for Jesus to save her soul. She had
both tears of joy and of regret and remorse. Now she was
really going to start a new life over in Fargo. That is, if the
plane landed all right.

Brandon said, Mom, I cant see anything? How will we

land?

We have to pray, right Ben?

Thats right. He looked around and said, Ill bet we

arent the only ones praying that same exact thing right about
now.

So Ben audibly prayed that the pilot would be able to have

good judgment in landing the plane in the soupy fog. Even
after they landed, they could barely see the runway lights. A
few people clapped with relief.

Gina said, Oh my God! I gotta pee! Then she looked at

Ben and said, Was that bad?

Ben laughed. I imagine God will let that one slide. Then
he went to get up.

Gina pulled on Bens arm and said, Thank you.

Ben said, Never forget, sister. Jesus does the saving. I am

just a messenger.

THE END
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