Staying on Course

As a Private Pilot I have logged about 65 hours as Pilot-In-Command of a single-engine airplane.  Flying is such a thrill for me.  I love seeing everything from above and experiencing the weather up close.  My particular license, however, does not allow me to fly into clouds.  Although I have received some basic training in the clouds, I need an Instrument Rating to be safe and qualified.  An Instrument Pilot is trained in such a way that he can rely solely on his instruments in adverse weather.  He has no need to look outside at the ground below.  In fact, if he is in the clouds all he would see is a blur of white.  Looking outside while flying in clouds is highly discouraged.  It results in extreme disorientation called "vertigo."  It is not good!  (Pilot's often say that hell must be an eternal state of vertigo!)  A pilot must constantly monitor his instruments and not be fixated on the clouds to avoid vertigo.  It is this methodical scan of the instrument panel that keeps the plane on course.

In our lives we are often distracted by what's outside the cockpit when we should be focussed on our instrument panels.  In life these distractions show up in many forms.  They're not all bad.  Sometimes they're good.  But distractions simply keep us from God's best.  What are your distractions?

The most important part of my life is knowing my Lord Jesus Christ.  He has a destination for me.  If I am distracted by the clouds (and get vertigo) I am going to be off course.  Even a slight deviation and I'm not going to end up where I need to be.  The good news is that He has given us His Word as an "instrument panel" to keep us on course.  It is the true compass and always points to Him.

As a final note, when you're flying in a white-out of clouds it is absolutely pointless to try flying while looking outside.  It is impossible to simply hold the plane level!  Your mind plays tricks on you!  Trust me.  It's the same way with our lives.  We cannot fly alone.  We must rely on the Holy Spirit.  I'll leave you with this airplane analogy->  The Holy Spirit is the airplane.  The Bible is the instrument panel.  The cross is the illuminated landing strip.

Grant J