Hot Air Balloons

Last weekend, we took an early morning trip out of the city to attend a Hot Air Balloon Festival.  There were balloons in different shapes, sizes and colors.  Aside from the usual balloon shape, there was a turtle, a sun, a beer bottle and even a farmer in a barn!

Watching the teams set up their equipment, blowing air to fill up the balloons, and heating the air up so that the balloons could soar up in the air was a fascinating sight.  Hot air can make such big, big balloons rise up to the air.  Amazing!  

Thinking about hot air reminded me of the time we were in Thailand and we experienced lighting up our own paper Sky Lanterns.  What a wonderful sight in the night sky!

Isn't it interesting that the word hot can convey both positive and negative things?  Hot air can make these beautiful balloons and lanterns soar through the air but hot air can also mean "empty and usually boastful talk."  "Hot" can mean something popular or successful, but it can also mean trouble, like when we say we're "in hot water" or "in the hot seat". 

In life, we can find ourselves in challenging situations.  These situations can affect us in different ways and we can respond to them either positively or negatively.  Can we turn our "Good Fridays" into "Easter Sundays"?  Can we use the "hot water" situations in our life to make us soar to the heavens?
I hope so!

 

 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4