Flying Lessons
It was a beautiful sunny day in TN, a little breeze, a few clouds, and altogether pleasant. It was early in 2003, and I arranged for my 17 yr old son to take flying lessons for his birthday. He had always wanted to get his pilot's license, so I agreed to get him started, and if he stuck with it, and he kept his grades in check and worked enough to cover his portion, I would split the cost with him. After a few initial lessons, his instructor asked me if I wanted to go up with them. "Heck, No!" I immediately thought, but for some reason, my mouth was forming words that my brain and my heart couldn't comprehend, and before I knew what was happening, I heard myself say, "sure, I'd love to." What?!?!! No way! There's no way I'm getting into a plane with him! But, against my wishes, my legs just started walking with them towards the plane. My brain had lost complete control over my body.
Well, after the lengthy pre-flight process, I climbed in the back seat of the little 4 seater Cessna, buckled up, and tried to look brave. My face smiled with excitement while my heart started rapidly, tapping my chest, wanting out, and nothing to do with this.
Up we went! Not too bad. I found if I looked straight ahead, it freaked me out as there was no horizon, only blue sky, and clouds, but if I looked to the side and I could see land, I was ok and calm. It's interesting how a different view from the same situation can completely change your response. It amazes me how many times just trying to see things from a different perspective, if I'm willing to try, can bring understanding, agreement, and progress to an otherwise anxious and difficult situation.
After about 10 minutes of flying around, I started to settle in, and the pre-vomit saliva began to dissipate. Then I heard the words I'll never forget: "kill the engines"........ say what?........after a few seconds of violent protest, the instructor explained that the plane could glide and safely return to earth, but the young pilot had to learn to, and practice restarting the engines if he ever lost power in a solo flight. You have to prepare for the unexpected and practice your game plan. Proverbs tells us that a wise man foresees danger and prepares for it. Well, we killed the engines, and it was actually quite calming. We glided for a while, started back the engines, and took a rather pleasant flight around Nashville for the lesson's remainder.
It was a similar kind of day earlier this week in TN when a friend of mine whom I had gone to Church with and traveled to Honduras on a mission trip took off in her private plane with two other Air National Guardsman didn't survive the flight. I can't even begin to understand what could have happened or why. I know that I was blessed to have gained her friendship and our time together, serving in Honduras. Above is a picture of that team.
Sometimes in life, you can choose the right perspective, prepare for the worst, and yet still have things turn out differently than you anticipated. Those moments can be difficult. I don't claim to understand tragedies like this, but I know that God loves us enough to put people in our lives that make us better and give us memories that make us smile. I know that despite how dark some days get if we just reach our hands up in faith, he is there to grab it and pull us into the light, and I know he doesn't want us to stop flying.