There is a lot to worry about these days. Wars. Crime. Socialism. Radical Islam. Whatever is growing in the back of my refrigerator.
Fortunately, we now carry phones specifically designed to make sure we never stop worrying about any of it.
BREAKING NEWS: Something terrible happened.
BREAKING NEWS: Somebody said something terrible about the terrible thing.
BREAKING NEWS: Here’s why the terrible thing could be even more terrible than originally thought.
Fear has become an industry. There are entire networks, websites and social media empires that make money convincing you the world will end sometime before dinner.
I refuse to participate.
Not because evil isn’t real. It is. I make fun of it for a living. I just don’t believe evil is in control.
And here’s where some of you will roll your eyes.
God is in control.
There. I said it. If your eyes rolled, please return them to their normal position and give me another minute.
The best way I can explain my faith is flying. I know almost nothing about airplanes. I understand there are wings. Beyond that, I assume it’s mostly buttons.
Yet I’ll climb into a metal tube filled with jet fuel, hear the door slam shut, be completely at peace, and calmly think, I wonder if we’re getting pretzels.
Why?
Because I’m not flying the plane.
I don’t storm the cockpit every ten minutes demanding answers. “What’s that noise? Why are we turning? Shouldn’t we be higher? I watched a YouTube video and I have some concerns.”
I’d be tackled before we reached cruising altitude.
Instead, I trust the pilot.
That’s how I look at this increasingly insane world.
I don’t control the plane. Neither does CNN. Neither does Fox News. Neither do the radical Socialists who somehow think they’re going to turn the USA into the USSR.
And evil isn’t flying it either.
That’s important because evil wants you to believe it’s winning. Fear wants you paralyzed. Anger wants you miserable. The forces selling them would appreciate it if you’d keep watching through the commercial break.
I won’t.
I’ll pay attention. I’ll speak up. I’ll fight for what I believe is right. And I’ll continue making fun of ridiculous people because somebody has to.
But I won’t live scared.
Evil is loud. Evil is ugly.
It isn’t God, though. God is the pilot and in control.
So buckle up. Do what you can. Love people. Laugh often. Trust the pilot. And remember that God loves you.
And if you don’t believe in God? Too bad. He still loves you.
Now, where are my pretzels?
In this episode, I explain why getting on an airplane taught me something surprisingly important about fear, faith, God, and who’s really flying this thing called life.
So relax. Kick back. Enjoy the flight!
Share Get Todd - Todd Schowalter
What happens when you combine thrift stores, artificial intelligence and Todd Schowalter and Joey V? Apparently, a radio show.
St. Louis TV meteorologist Leah Hill stops by to talk about her new thrifting show, ReLoved With Leah, where forgotten finds get a second chance. Basically, it’s recycling, except you might come home with a lamp shaped like Elvis.
Then Professor Jim joins me to tackle a slightly bigger issue: Should we regulate AI before humans completely outsource thinking?
We’ll talk about how to embrace this incredible technology without allowing our own brains to become vintage collectibles.
The Right Mind Show with Todd Schowalter
Saturday at 5 PM CT on NewsTalkSTL. Or, catch the replays on all the major podcast platforms!
If this week’s column made you laugh, nod in agreement, or at least loosen your death grip on the armrests, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. For just $7 a month, you’ll help support the cartoons, columns, videos, podcasts, and my ongoing effort to remind everyone that the world may be crazy, but that doesn’t mean we have to be.
As always, thank you for reading, sharing, commenting, and proving that faith, common sense, and a good sense of humor can get us through some pretty turbulent skies.
And remember...
You’re not flying the plane. God is.
Until next time...
Todd
Share Get Todd - Todd Schowalter
©Todd Schowalter Productions • 2026
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