Read Time: 4 min 02 sec | Reading Level: 6th Grade

U.S. NEWS

Short on Workers, Long on Delays

For the second week in a row, flights at Newark Liberty International Airport are facing big delays. This airport is one of the three biggest airports near New York City, so it’s a busy place. 

Flights are delayed because there are not enough workers to guide planes. Some radar systems are also having problems. Thousands of flights have been delayed. Hundreds have been canceled. United Airlines even stopped 35 flights a day to and from Newark.

The situation got worse last week when the radar shut down for 90 seconds. About 20% of air traffic controllers stopped coming to work, and some are now taking 45 days off because of the stress. 

The FAA (short for the Federal Aviation Administration) says it plans to hire 2,000 new air traffic controllers this year. But the U.S. is already short 3,000 controllers, and training new controllers takes over 18 months. So, the delays may stick around for a while.

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
When things made by people, like airports and technology—don’t work the way they should, it reminds us that only God is always steady and trustworthy. Our real safety doesn’t come from things in this world but from Jesus and the hope of his forever Kingdom.

“‘For I will create new heavens and a new earth… The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like cattle, but the serpent’s food will be dust! They will not do what is evil or destroy on my entire holy mountain,’ says the Lord.”
Isaiah 65:17, 25 (CSB) (read full passage)

How can I model putting my hope and trust in Christ when discussing this story?
When things go wrong—whether it’s a delayed flight, a canceled vacation, or just a long wait at the airport—it’s easy to get frustrated or anxious. But situations like this are reminders that our hope isn’t in human systems or perfect plans—it’s in Christ. He is steady when the world is shaky.

Rather than grumbling or giving in to fear, believers can respond with peace and trust, pointing ourselves and others back to God’s faithfulness. Even when things feel out of control, God never is. Our calm confidence in him can be a quiet but powerful witness to those around us.

What response to this story do I want to model for my children?
Gratitude over entitlement. When technology fails, it’s easy to get mad at the failure, rather than showing gratitude for the majority of the time when it works correctly. 

When something like an airplane trip goes smoothly… that’s a great opportunity to show gratitude for the hard work of hundreds of men and women, who had to do their jobs well so that you could get from one place to another.

• Discuss as a family five things you’re grateful for and why you’re grateful for them. What are some things you’re waiting for? Why is waiting so hard? How can you keep eternity in mind in the waiting?
  

• Memorize Titus 2:11-13 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."
  

• Pray that your family would grow in gratitude for who God is and what he's done, that you would wait patiently and productively—whether it's for a flight, a new season of life, or Christ's return—trusting that God is working all things for your good and his glory.

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