If you are flying to or through Phoenix you may want to stop by for a visit. They are located on Level 3 in Terminal 4.

I used to be a search and rescue scuba diver. The challenges that face a search and rescue diver are primarily psychological. During the training I spent a lot of time on the bottom of the Ohio River, unable to see any thing and often battling feelings that the world was closing in on me. I was only 30 feet down, with lots of safety divers and tenders in place and still the feelings of isolation were real.

One particular training event was an evening session. As I sat on the bottom of the river, I realized my breathing apparatus was not working properly. Rather than breathe normally, I actually had to pull air from the tank with my lungs. Every breath was laborious. I should have indicated the problem to someone but I stuck it out. Battling through the fear and pain to complete the training session.

As Russell spoke of Jonah being over come by the watery depths, I was reminded of this experience and how much worse it was for Jonah who had no air supply before being swallowed by the fish. And how Jonah’s experience of the watery depths speaks beyond the oceans.

I also remember being in some dark times when I was not under water in a dirty river; feeling like the watery depths were over taking me. And somehow in the darkness knowing God was present.

And then Russell ended the service with his usual blessing and while I’ve heard it more than 75 times I guess, yesterday it struck me deeply. As he said, “may God go above you to watch over you, beside you to befriend you, behind you to encourage you and before you to show you the way” … I was especially struck today by the “behind you to encourage you” portion.

I was struck deeply by the idea that God would want to encourage me. Encourage me to look to the Holy Temple in the midst of darkness I may face. God has given his Word and his Son to encouarge us even while we sit in darkness on what seems like the bottom of an ocean.

Last month, “Tom” was on his final connecting flight home. His layover at CVG was only 50 minutes and he simply came unglued. Gasping through his tears Tom said: “Twenty five years ago, my father died at this Airport in the Air Canada disaster. He was a Dad I hardly knew and now grief is paralyzing me.”

The son of a famous musician who spent over 250 days a year on the road, Tom was suddenly confronting repressed grief and he needed spiritual care. He needed to tell his story and be well heard. He needed prayer and consolation.

A few dozen passengers at CVG need such care every day.

Soldiers returning from battle fields who are suffering post traumatic stress disorder, business men who have just lost their jobs, travelers destined for funerals of beloved ones, and patients on the way to cancer centers are just a few encounters our Airport Chaplain ministers to every day.

As our Chaplain drew near, Tom realized his deeper grief was focused on the 4-year-old granddaughter his father would never know “and never get to write a song for.”

Words of compassion and prayers of consolation were shared and a few days later, a memorial service was held and a photo of a lovely 4-year-old girl was committed in honor of Tom’s deceased Father.

The Interfaith Chapel Ministry of CVG is on call and open 24-7 with amazing opportunities for offering spiritual care.

[Editor's Note: On 2 June, 1983 Air Canda flight 797 made an emergency landing at CVG when an in-flight fire behind the washroom spread between the outer skin and the inner decor panels, filling the plane with noxious, toxic smoke. There were 23 fatalities and 16 others injured. This incident led directly to the FAA requiring all planes to have smoke detectors in lavatories.]

This second video provides a tour inside the A380.