Do you remember what it’s like to be lost–really lost? It’s one of those experiences you don’t easily forget.
Apart from minor childhood experiences, I never experienced any kind of being lost except for taking the wrong turn in an unfamiliar area.
Then, I learned the fear and the panic of being lost. In my late 20’s I took up flying and loved it. Getting in the airplane consumed my thoughts and my life. Part of getting your pilot’s license is the first time when you fly the plane by yourself. An additional part is to take a cross-country solo. I took one of my cross-country flights to Brookhaven, Mississippi. The plan was to fly to the airport, land, stay a few minutes and get back in the plane for the return flight.
Everything went fine until somewhere along the way I felt I was going in the wrong direction. At that point, panic overtook me. I began flying in circles. I had no idea where I was. Finally, I settled down and determined to trust my planning and my instruments. Soon my little plane flew over an airport. Nearby was a water tower with the name “Brookhaven” on the side. I have never been so happy to be in Brookhaven.
Christians describe being separated from Christ as being lost, and it’s an apt description. To be apart from Christ is to have no moral compass, no instruments to guide you in troubled times. Being lost spiritually is like being cut off from the tower or your instruments. You do your best to make good decisions, but you have no one to help.
When we give our lives to Christ, we have the power of the Holy Spirit to guide and encourage us. Since Christ saved me, I have never felt alone. The Holy Spirit has always been with me–even in a small plane looking for Brookhaven, Mississippi.
I learned one other lesson that day: trust your instruments. We need to trust God and His guidance through the Scripture. God’s instruments–Scripture, church, wise leaders–are given to keep us on track and to make it safely home.
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3 Responses
Thank you, Waylon, for such an awesome reminder of the incredible love of our heavenly Father. So often we forget to call on Him when we need His help and guidance, and try to do things on our own (usually ending in failure.) Thanks again … Nancy
Thanks so much for sharing this memory. I can’t imagine you being lost, but I do remember being in a plane and realizing how easy it would be to get lost. My father and brother both had Cessna’s. After years of pranks, I will never fly with either of them. It is such a pleasure knowing that God’s love is unwavering and He doesn’t delight in “tricks” which will make us feel lost.
That was a good example. I remember flying cross country through weather in a two man formation; I was leading. We were going through weather, mostly just clouds, when I lost my radio on approach to San Antonio. I hand signaled to my wing man for two to go one; I had lost my radio. I immediately became his wingman. I had to trust his ability to receive vectors and follow him to land. The soup was thick all the way down. I don’t remember feeling lost or panicked. I was trained and I knew my wingman had the same training. Our standards were high and the confidence in our ground crews were high because we knew their standards were just as high. Yet, things happen, equipment fails and there are procedures to follow. Everyone knew their mission and worked to achieve it to the best of their ability. There was a time and a place for jokes and fun; not while we were on a mission. When someone says they are there to help you and all they are doing is pandering for their personal gain it becomes clear they have a different mission, standard, Lord. Such behavior is not to be tolerated, yet, intervention is dependent on factors far from Truth and accountability or seeking to correct, guide, instruct to a path of righteousness.
The situation of 61 years of athletic accomplishments now in the news has made my point. Pick the poison. It is around us. “We didn’t want the bad publicity.” How many times have I heard that excuse? Sounds like being lost in plain sight to me.