by Larry Stallard
Most of us who flew for the 225th Aviation Company never had to actually experience something that did often intrude upon our thoughts. What would it be like to be shot down and have to parachute into the triple canopy jungle? Then, if one made it safely to the ground, to deal with enemy soldiers or wild creatures? As the much loved British writer, C.S. Lewis, observed, “It is not given us to know what might have been.” As so we can be grateful and appreciate the Devine Providence at work then and now in our lives.
One priceless life-lesson hammered again and again into my thinking came from flying experiences, and especially so with Mohawk missions during the tour in RVN. That is to always trust the instruments. Those soldiers who maintained our aircraft and equipment did a wonderful job in giving us pilots strong confidence in our Mohawks. They wanted the equipment to always work at its peak performance. That helped us to trust the instruments. No feelings, not preferences, not second guesses. Always, the instruments. That saved the day for me on every flight.
That life-lesson arising from flying on instruments (IFR) has a parallel in the life of faith. In our spiritual life we cannon go by subjective feelings, personal preferences, or changing ideas of people. Our Creator and Lord has made it crystal clear that in order to successfully live our spiritual lives of faith, we must trust His greatest and absolutely reliable instrument, His Word the Bible. This alone will assure us of making a safe and secure Life-Flight to that ultimate destination the Bible reveals as heaven.
(Larry was a pilot with the 225th in 1970. He is now retired and now lives with his wonderful wife Jan in Tennessee where he is the former pastor of Edgemont Presbyterian Church in Bristol.)
No comments:
Post a Comment