Some glad morning when this life is o’er, I’ll fly away.

To that home on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away.

I love the words to that gospel hymn penned by Albert Brumley in 1929.

Just one quick question: Do we have to fly?

Might God consider special options for those who prefer wheels to wings? Perhaps a “Gloryland Way” bus or train?

I enjoy traveling and meeting Christians across the nation.

I tolerate flying.

I Google “fear of flying” for tips on overcoming airborne distress. I try to reassure myself with the much-reported claims that flying is safer than driving.

A recent Associated Press story carried this headline: “It’s never been safer to fly; deaths at record low.”

According to the article, the past 10 years have been the best in the nation’s aviation history with 153 fatalities. That’s one death for every 50 million passengers on commercial flights.

Still, my heart rate jumps as the engines (please, let there be engines plural) roar for takeoff. Any tiny turbulence makes my stomach churn like what I imagine it must feel like to bungee jump without a cord.