Flying as much as I do, I think often about "security." Ben Franklin offered some now-famous words that are little heeded: "Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one."

I wonder why people of faith seem to be as addicted to the illusion of security as those who have no faith at all. We, apparently, are no more anxious to meet God than those who don't love God. Helen Keller said, "Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing."

As a person of faith, she spoke with a confidence I can only wish for. If faith is not the key to living life as if it is an adventure, then what is? If we cannot trust God with our life, how can we trust God with our death?

Anxiety is epidemic, which is ironic considering we have it better than any previous generation. My friend Roger is a long-term survivor of HIV/AIDS. He has spent much of the past few years living with almost constant pain, yet, whenever you ask him how he's doing, he says, "One more day above ground. I'll take it." He is one of my heroes.

We worry and whine about so many things in life and forget that if our faith has any meaning at all it must mean that we trust God with life, with death, with life after death. THAT is the only real security that exists.

Blessings,