8:07 AM SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 2018
EMERGENCY ALERT
I was working Saturday morning. I started around 4:30 AM. I had already made some decent money shuttling Japanese tourists to catch a 6 AM direct flight to Tokyo. Now I was catching a few local fares and a few airport runs.
I got a $40 airport run and as I was settling the fare I got another text from dispatch. It was a familiar run a young local who worked at one of the older hotels.
As I was about to depart my phone displayed an emergency alert.
North Korea had been lobbing a few missiles over Japan for several months. He didn't seem to have the aiming thing working yet so my first thought was if a missile was fired it was only in our general direction, it's a very large ocean.
My other thought was it was a political game, remember who was president at the time. Negative was the news of the day, every day. I had learned to discount most of it as spin but this was from an official government agency, they would never lie would they?
Three thoughts went through my mind. Kim Jung Un has trouble hitting the Pacific ocean. It seemed too coincidental because it fit the news narrative and if it is true we are on an island where would we go?
I put my cab in drive and pulled away from the curb and headed to my next fare.
As I pulled away I saw people running, where to I have no idea. Others stared at their phones in confusion. As I drove I dialed my wife but no answer she must be away from her phone or napping.
I reached my destination and the young man was waiting and staring at his phone. He jumped in the back. I asked if he knew about the alert and he laughed. I laughed and asked if he still wanted to go to work? He then said, "Oh do you think this is real?" I said, "not really."He then said, " I'm good."
As we drove we were noticing the stressed out drivers and frantic tourists.
The conversation was mostly humor but not the walking past the graveyard humor. It was the relaxed kind.
He then said something profound, "It doesn't look like these people are ready." I asked, "Oh are you religious?" He said "No I'm a Christian." He didn't have to explain, I knew what he meant, I'm a Christian too.
It seemed even at his young age he was sure where he stood with his Creator. I have the facts and information about where I stand with God but not always the feeling to go with it. This young man had a comfort I admired. I dropped him off and looked at my phone, it was a false alarm.
The day went on, the news did their usual spin and finger pointing. The denials, blaming and predictable "sources say" journalism went on as usual.
I finally got through to my wife she missed the whole thing.
I finished my shift around 5:30 PM most of the conversation was about the alert. The conversation that stuck in my head was that calm young man, he had something I wanted.
In the midst of a potential ballistic missile attack I was working the odds. I put my trust in the dishonesty of the media, the corruption and incompetence of government and the blustering incompetence of a tin pot dictator.
The young man was putting his trust in God, not to be protected by Him but welcomed home by Him. That is the trust I want when this life ends for me. Funny how a little thing like a ballistic missile attack makes you think.
