R.D.

Many times before she had viewed the hot-air balloons from the ground. They always looked like brilliant push-pins on a bulletin board made by God. Colored balls pinned to the clouds was how she always described them. Today she was in one of those colored balls, a beautiful balloon named "Sheba".

Barry, the pilot, loved to talk. Cassie had listened politely but now her mind wandered as she looked over the beautiful landscape. She could see Murphy and the ground crew following them. The truck left a long trail of dust on the road below. She took some pictures and then realized that the pilot had stopped talking. She turned around to apologize for her inattentiveness. To her horror she saw the pilot slumped over on the floor of the gondola.

"Barry," she yelled, "are you okay?"

There was no answer. His hands were clutching his chest. Beads of sweat glistened on his brow. His confused eyes stared at the air.

Cassie grabbed the CB radio. "Sheba to Goodwill," she said, "we have a problem up here."

Static cut the air like a dull knife.

Cassie depressed the button on the mike again. "Barry is having chest pains. We have to get down now. Help me!". She realized that she didn't know how to save herself. That's just like boys and girls: no one will be in heaven who does not first realize that he cannot save himself.

Murphy fingered the microphone. He knew "Sheba" inside and out. He would have to give simple instructions so that Cassie could land the balloon. He would have to sound calm.

"Okay Cassie, here's what we are going to do," radioed Murphy. "I'm going to go over the basics. Listen carefully. If you don't understand something, tell me. It is extremely important that you do exactly as I say."

Cassie listened closely. Murphy told her about the lanyard that controlled the blast valve that shoots a flame into the balloon's envelope and makes the balloon rise. He told her to try it. The balloon rose. Then he told her about the cord that controls the valve at the top of the balloon. That valve releases a small amount of gas and brings the balloon closer to the ground. He told her where to look for the variometer and the temperature gauge and how to read them. He made her locate the ripping panel and the line that attached to it. She would need to pull on this when she landed. It would open the balloon and keep the wind from dragging it along the ground.

They went through the maneuvers together a few times. Murphy gave the instructions and Cassie obeyed.

There were many tense moments as Cassie flew the balloon. The landing was very bumpy, but they were safe at last. An ambulance came quickly to take Barry to the hospital.

What do you think would have happened if Cassie had decided to land the balloon all by herself? What do you think would happen to you if you tried to get to heaven all by yourself? All Cassie did was obey. And that is all that God requires. "..whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).