Mark Hood...

The name of the guy who was speaking at church this morning. Someone you have  never heard of, and me neither, until today. He lives in Charlotte, and drove down for the express purpose of filling the pulpit at CCC this morning. With an amazing story to tell. He was one of the 156 people who survived the flight that landed in the Hudson River some years ago. The story that was told in the book, written by the pilot, "Miracle on the Hudson".

According to Mark, there were some injuries, but nothing life threatening. Some broken bones, dislocated joints, a whole lot of cold exposure/trauma due to people being in the 35 degree water, but everyone survived to return home to families and loved ones. And amazing story. If you recall, the jet, as it was taking off from La Guardia in NYC, headed for Charlotte, SC, ran through a huge flight of geese, and blew both engines. The pilot could not get back to the airport, and brought it down on the river. Everyone jumped out, slid down the emergency slides, landed in the water. Got up on the wings, though the belly of the jet was peeled back when it hit the water, and all were rescued by water taxis and local boaters.

Mark's part of the story, something he obviously loves to retell is that he feels the airliner was in the hands of God: the only reason it landed safely and no one was seriously injured. He would only give interviews to the media if the outlets agreed he could say that: giving the credit to God for the safe landing, and timely rescue. He said there were some news reporters who did not want to broadcast his thoughts, relating of the crash and rescue of the passengers and crew. But he decided he could not allow the story to be told without giving credit - and placing the results squarely in the hands of God.

He said he and Capt. Sullenberger were the last two to be taken aboard vessels, and Sullenberger would not leave his command until everyone else was safe. So, though he expected to die when the plane's engines burned out, and they were coasting, rapidly descending into densely populated New York Sity, he believes God was definitely in control.

 He was brought to share his story through a chance meeting with a Delta flight attendant who is a member of CCC. They met last year, when she was on a flight and would not agree for that jet to take off without a questionable safety situation being resolved.  He spoke to her, to commend her for her diligence, and concern, then told her he had survived a plane crash - and now you know the rest of the story. He did not write a book about the experience, did not get a lot of attention, no bill-boards, but he is certainly a man who is walking the walk, willing to tell anyone who will listen why he is here - and what we are all here for...