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Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt

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“How would you like to be <strong>the</strong>re <strong>in</strong> an hour?” <strong>the</strong> man asked.“What do you mean?”“I’m a pilot,” he expla<strong>in</strong>ed. “I fly an executive’s private plane.I’ve delivered some men to Los Angeles and I’m on my way backto Dallas. I’m not so flush with money that I am averse to mak<strong>in</strong>ga few extra dollars. If you are will<strong>in</strong>g to pay me <strong>the</strong> fare youwere go<strong>in</strong>g to pay on <strong>the</strong> flight you’ve missed, I’ll take you.”If you can’t trust <strong>the</strong> driver, you trust God with <strong>the</strong> driver. I said,“Yes.” Wearily, I climbed <strong>in</strong>to a beautiful executive jet which musthave cost millions of dollars and slumped <strong>in</strong>to my seat.After doz<strong>in</strong>g for what felt like one m<strong>in</strong>ute, I awoke to hear <strong>the</strong>pilot say<strong>in</strong>g, “There are <strong>the</strong> lights. We’re com<strong>in</strong>g down.” In lessthan one hour, I’d made <strong>the</strong> journey. I rang up a surprised SteveKeel, my friend who was expect<strong>in</strong>g me <strong>the</strong> next day, and toldhim how <strong>the</strong> Lord had provided.Home for Box<strong>in</strong>g Day!Along with trips across <strong>the</strong> ocean, I traveled many times to Ireland.On one occasion, I received an <strong>in</strong>vitation to speak for <strong>the</strong>third year <strong>in</strong> a row at a Christmas convention. When <strong>the</strong> letterarrived, Marj just said, “Oh.”Beryl asked, “Dad, you’re not go<strong>in</strong>g away for Christmas aga<strong>in</strong>,are you?”I felt an obligation to be with my family at Christmas time, yet Ididn’t want to disappo<strong>in</strong>t <strong>the</strong>se dear Irish people. I phoned <strong>the</strong>bro<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong> charge and arranged with him to speak on ChristmasEve and early on Christmas day. Then, I planned to catch <strong>the</strong> lastplane on Christmas night and be home <strong>in</strong> time for Box<strong>in</strong>g Daywith my family. This satisfied both my family and <strong>the</strong> bro<strong>the</strong>rs <strong>in</strong>Ireland.On Christmas night, I was <strong>the</strong> first speaker. After I f<strong>in</strong>ished, SamWallace and his wife offered to run me to <strong>the</strong> airport. When weleft <strong>the</strong> packed meet<strong>in</strong>g, it was snow<strong>in</strong>g heavily, but bro<strong>the</strong>r Samdidn’t feel <strong>the</strong> cold. Drunk with exhilaration from <strong>the</strong> meet<strong>in</strong>gs,Sam was as fit to drive me to <strong>the</strong> airport as I was to swim across<strong>the</strong> sea. We zigzagged down <strong>the</strong> road, speak<strong>in</strong>g with o<strong>the</strong>r tongues166

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