A Minor Miracle

Years ago, I worked for Beech Aircraft, in my hometown of Wichita, Kansas. The building in which I worked, was a Quonset building, one of several in a row, that used to be one of several hangars. There was a giant overhead door in each end of the building. Since we didn't have air conditioning, on warm days (and hot) we would open both doors and the breeze that wafted through was usually adequate to keep us fairly cool.

The department I worked in was known as department 14E, the "E" stood for "Engines". In addition to putting the engines of the aircraft together, the department was also responsible for testing hydraulic equipment.

My own position there consisted in the operation of two very large and temperamental radial drills. They drilled sideways, rather than up and down and the holes they drilled were as much as 16 feet long. These machines broke down often. Usually 3-4 times a night. They broke down so often, in fact, that the operator had to be trained to do the maintenance on them instead of calling the maintenance department. They just couldn't be bothered that often.

I worked 2nd shift, from 3:30 pm to 12:00 am.

My co-workers were all men. The only woman in the entire department was the supervisor's secretary. One can imagine what kind of language was heard constantly with no women to be careful around. This was back in the early 70's when men still respected ladies, to a point.

There were not many "religious" men working there. Or so it appeared.

One otherwise unremarkable evening, something very remarkable happened.

I remember I was screwing off, as usual. I was young and foolish and thought I was too good to work for a manufacturing company, although I had no education over that of high school.

I was going to be a millionaire as soon as I figured out what I was good at.

I was walking towards the north door, away from my post, and suddenly I became aware that the sky outside had turned a vivid pink in the twilight, as the sun had slipped behind a cloud.I believe I must have been the first in the department to notice this phenomenon. The other men were busy working, and talking amongst themselves as they worked. I could hear the cursing and laughter as they Joked with each other.

It was then that the remarkable thing happened.

I had stopped walking by this time. One by one the men in the building stopped working, and talking, and cursing, and laughing as they, too, became aware of the beauty spreading slowly across the sky. Every one of them, to a man, dropped their tools and slowly walked towards the open door. Then we all stood transfixed there in the opening. Wordlessly.

What a sight! 50 men standing in the opening of a former aircraft hangar gazing in rapt wonder of the beauty of a twilight sky.

It was breathtaking.

I don't know how long we all stood in silence, each man gazing in wonder at an entire world bathed in a vivid pink light. It seemed like an eternity, but it was only a few minutes, tops.

Somehow, I think each man there, atheist and agnostic, Christian and Jew, took advantage of the moment to contemplate the majesty of the universe.

I heard a voice softly say, "No one who sees this can say there is no God."

The voice was mine. It was me. Your humble friend and uneducated blogger. It seemed to come from somewhere else, as if someone else had said it. But it was me.

Nobody else said a word, as far as I know, we all stood there in silence and awe.

Soon after that, everyone returned to their work. And returned to talking and laughing, but the cursing had stopped, and the laughter was subdued, not loud and boisterous as before.

At that moment, I believe everyone in that building believed in God.