Lessons from my logbook

I have a logbook containing information for all 1,392 flights I have ever taken. It begins in 1952 with a short 90 mile flight from Havana to Miami with my parents after a series of evangelistic meetings there.

That was my second shortest flight. The longest covered 7,450 miles (Los Angeles to Hong Kong). Total miles flown is now at 1,094,986. That would be 233 round trips between New York and Los Angeles. I’m a window seat kind of guy and can pick out a familiar landmark from 33,000 feet.

But in addition to supplying you with worthless bits of information, I have gained a few spiritual lessons while strapped into an insanely narrow seat for over 2500 hours (that does not count thousands of hours in airports waiting to board!)

Number One: Don’t despise small things. Flying a million  miles isn’t all about long, direct flights. Some are ‘puddle jumpers.’ Life is not all ‘highway driving’ but lots of small, seemingly insignificant movements. They’re all part of the journey. Some of God’s greatest gifts and most powerful lessons come in the commuter-like starts and stops of life.

Number Two: Keep the important things in life secured. You never know when you will hit serious turbulence. Make sure you are anchored to your faith, family and friends. Add tie-down points whenever possible.

Number Three: Keep your spiritual radio on … the Controller may have something extremely important to say to you. Although you may think you can see forever, He has a view that you don’t. And if you fly from clear skies into dense clouds, you’ll welcome his voice. Yours should never be a ‘solo flight.’

Number Four: Keep your life free of entanglements. A bit of ice on the wings changes the way the plane responds. It can even send it into the ground. Accumulate things slowly. Learn to give away more than you keep. Don’t lose altitude because of ‘stuff.’

Number Five: Check the signs at the gate before boarding. You’ll only get to the right destination if you board the right plane. You won’t get to Phoenix on a plane headed for  Buffalo! And there’s absolutely no way of reaching heaven if you don’t begin your journey through the narrow gate!

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad,

and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.”

Matthew 7:13 New Living Translation