Hi RACHEL,
 
Your analogy "waiting on the tarmac for takeoff" could not be more fitting.
 
Let me tell you how fitting it is.
 
In the late '80s Israel launched Operation Solomon, to
rescue thousands of Falasha Jews out of Ethiopia.
 
To do this Israel sent messengers, many months ahead of time, to the Jewish
communities scattered all over the nation.
 
The message must have been something like this:
 
"You have waited long enough. Your prayers have been answered.
It is time to return home to Israel.
We are coming to get you and receive you in the Land.
There you will have a new home and a new life.
 
For this to happen, here is what you must do.
 
You must leave your jobs, businesses, homes, villages, even family, and
at all costs you must get to the tarmac in Addis Ababa and be ready.. for in an hour
you think not, airoplanes will come out of the shy and deliver you to Israel."
 
Who would believe this?
 
Most Falasha's, living in remote villages, had never even seen an airplane!
 
As a result only about half took the huge risk, believed in faith, and left everything behind.
 
What happened was this.
 
Many of the Falasha's walked for weeks to get to the tarmac. Running out of food and water, many
risked their lives. They suffered ridicule by their friends, neighbors and family, who thought them foolish.
(In the end these were left behind)
 
Once on the tarmac.. were thousands had gathered... all they could do was hope and look up, waiting for their deliverance.
 
They waited and waited.
 
Then SUDDENLY.. out of heaven as it were.. the planes appeared. 50 of them. In the middle of the night!
 
Within hours the tarmac was emptied and those failthful souls made Aliyah to HaEretz.
 
We too, as you pointed out, are like those waiting on the tarmac of life, ready to leave it
all behind, in a moments notice, hoping and praying for our deliverer to come out of the sky.
 
 
Hallelu-YAH,
 
Alan Trombetta