A Different Perspective for Me

My nephew is studying to be a pilot. Three days after he received his initial pilot’s license Taray invited his dad and I to a nearby airport for a “flight.” Now I must tell you that I’m claustrophobic and don’t like small planes but I was determined not to let my fears stand in the way of celebrating my nephew’s accomplishment. Michael and I met my nephew at a rural airport and made our way to an old and very tiny plane. Michael climbed in the back seat and you may not believe it but I climbed in beside my nephew in the co-pilot’s seat. Am I crazy or what???

It was a great day for flying with the clear blue sky and we did not have a cloud in sight. As we taxied down the runway and took off I could hear my nephew talking over the headset to ground control (just a man sitting at a desk.lol.. I told you it was a rural airport) giving our coordinates and flight plan. What a proud moment for us! We had only been up in the air ten minutes when my nephew looked at me from the corner of his sunglasses and said over the headset, “Hey Auntie, I’m going to show you a maneuver the FAA required me to do before giving me my pilot’s license.” At that moment Taray pointed the nose of the plane straight toward heaven and stalled the engine. You can guess what happened next, the nose of the plane didn’t point toward heaven any longer, it pointed straight down to the ground. Now, I’ve never spoken in tongues before but let me just say that day, knowing my nephew could hear everything I’d say and not wanting him to hear my fearful prayer fest, I took off my head set and then began praying in every tongue imaginable for the Lord to send his largest and strongest angels to rescue us from absolute death!

After a few seconds that seemed like minutes I noticed my nephew pulling levers and turning knobs and before I knew it he had righted the plane and returned us to our proper altitude. Once my heart had taken its rightful place back in my chest I opened my eyes and began to look out the window and I saw some pretty amazing sights. Rock quarries, deep and brilliant azure water surrounded by sparkling white rocks, incredible farm land untouched by housing developers and miles of towering pine trees. It was absolutely breathtaking. I’ve traveled the highway running parallel to all of this land literally hundreds of times but I never knew these breathtaking sights even existed. Well, our flight was over and we landed at the tiny little airport. I hugged my nephew and after expressing my pride in his accomplishment I hurried home.

All the way home I heard the Lord speaking to my heart, “Charlotte, I know your life appears to be spinning out of control just like that tiny plane.” Just like your nephew knew how to recover the plane’s engine; I know exactly what I’m doing in your life. I see and know the things you are going through but if you will begin to see your life from a different perspective you will notice there is beauty even in the midst of these difficult days.”

“Oh Lord, you’re right, I’ve been focused on the discomfort of my life’s difficulties and I’ve forgotten about Your sovereign hand allowing everything I’m experiencing for my good and Your glory. Someone said it best,' we should put our problems into perspective by saying ‘Problem, here is my God!'" because there is no problem You cannot handle in our lives.”

By making my problems my focus, I was easily discouraged and forgot I have a God who sustains me. When I changed my perspective, and made God the object and the focus of my life, I again experienced the peace that comes through a life of trust

Dear Lord, I confess I’ve turned my attention to my trails and my comfort. Forgive me and lift my perspective. Show me the beauty in the midst of these difficulties. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.