Can You Fly a Plane?

     The year was 1964. David Harris was waiting nervously for his turn for an interview with the American Airlines. Any applicant would have been nervous, but David was especially so. Over the past few weeks he had been rejected again and again. His job options were running out. Would this be one more disappointment?
    At last he entered the chief pilot's office. After the polite greetings were exchanged, David didn't mince words. "Before we proceed," he told the official before him, "I want you to know that I am black."
    The chief pilot looked steadily back at the man in front of him. With his light skin, it would have been easy for David to pass as white. There was no awkward pause, no stuttering reply. The answer was direct and simple. "This is American Airlines," the chief pilot said, "and we don't care if you're black, white, or chartreuse, we only want to know, can you fly a plane?"
    We come to God confessing our faults. We attempt to explain to Him that we are not perfect. We do our best to make it clear we don't have all the abilities that we see in others.
    But God doesn't care about our abilities. He doesn't care that we are not perfect. He doesn't care about our failings.
    What He does care about is our ability to receive His love. What matters to Him is our willingness to serve. The thing He longs to see is the humble, graceful acceptance of how He has created us. 
    It's so easy to think that our social standing or our ability to do good works will somehow make a difference in God's desire for us. We imagine that we need to be "good enough" before He will stoop low enough to sprinkle His cleansing blood on our souls. We believe He is looking for some semblance of perfection.
    He isn't.
    God doesn't care if we are the most wretched of sinners. He isn't bothered by a lack of cooking skills or an IQ that doesn't seem to measure up. He isn't even deterred if you admit to Him that you cannot fly the proverbial plane. He only wants to know, will you accept His gifts?
    You can lay your doubts and worries at His feet. You can express your inadequacies all you like. It makes Him no difference. God is more interested in your willingness than in your perfection. 
    "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  (Romans 5:8) There was no waiting around for us to get our act together. He didn't confirm with us first that we were going to be serious about serving Him. No, it was a free gift. He doesn't care if we are white, black, or chartreuse. He wants you. He wants me.
    David Harris became the first commercial airline pilot of African American heritage. It didn't happen on its own. He still had to fill in an application. He still had to show up. He still was courageous enough to mention something he was afraid would get him kicked out.
    It is the same with us. Show up at prayer time. Be completely honest with yourself and with God. Let Him know that you want to accept whatever He has for you. Just as the chief pilot's words of reassurance were surely music to David's ears, the love and forgiveness of God will be music to your heart.
    There, in the service of the Almighty, is a fulfillment more beautiful than you have imagined. And you are wanted. With all your faults, with your quirks, your disappointments, your weaknesses.
    You.
    Just as you are.

    

It's a Climb

    I'm willing to work on projects that spark my creativity for hours. I will rearrange and sketch and ponder and write lists in order to achieve something that ignites a fire in my mind. I'm not so great at hum-drum daily chores. I like things to be neat and clean, but I also like to find the easiest, quickest way to make it happen. 

    Unfortunately, this tendency shows up in my spiritual life as well.

    I was walking through a valley, crying out to God. Why were things so hard? Where was the joy? Isn't Christian life supposed to bring happiness? Why was everything so dark?

    But then I remembered. We weren't promised perfect joy and happiness. We weren't promised days of sunshine. We were never told that valleys wouldn't exist. Instead, we are told to expect tribulation. It's not a "sometimes" or a "maybe." John 16:33 says: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." 

    When I read this verse and others like it I tend to gloss over the tribulation. I focus on the peace and the good cheer. I don't want to face tribulation. Or if I must, I want to believe it won't be so bad. Maybe just a few battles that get my adrenaline pumping, where I flourish a sword and face down my enemies, then go back to living my peaceful life of good cheer.

    That's not reality. In fact, it's not often the big battles that are the hardest to fight. No, it's the everyday climb of self denial and hum-drum faithfulness. The little decisions that earn no recognition. The choice to have morning devotions. The effort to change negative thought patterns. The constant resolve to do what is right, not what is easy. "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much" (Luke 16:10a)

    We are encouraged to run with patience, to press toward the mark, to be not weary. My flesh isn't interested in the discomforts, the straightforward plodding, the endless hiking. My earthly mind rebels at the thought of denying myself the little pleasures offered in the world around me, whispered in my ear by the tempter.

    I want to take my eyes off the journey and look at the destination. Instead of focusing on how difficult the road, I want to remember that every weary step, each labored breath is taking me closer to my Jesus, closer to the Glory He has prepared. I want to find joy in replacing my fleshly desires with submission to His will. I want to live my life eager for the fulfillment of promises to come, happy to suffer whatever discomforts He asks of me here on earth.

    And one day you and I shall stand before the beautiful gates of our eternal home and realize, fully realize, that Heaven is truly worth it all.

    

It's a Climb

I was walking with my Savior,

Pleading for His blessed favor,

For the mountains all were looming threateningly.

I begged that He not tarry,

But my hardships He would carry,

All the little things that seem so big to me.

But He touched my heart in kindness,

Slowly washed away my blindness,

As He strove to show me what was really true:

Said, "You're seeking blue skies with no trial,

Easy pathways, no denial,

But that's not the journey I have promised you!"

"For it's a climb!

There's a mountain summit waiting,

Throw aside your hesitating,

For I'll go with you each and every day.

I've walked with you through the valley,

Now lift up your head and rally,

For I'll surely stay beside you all the way!

You shall stand someday up higher,

And know 'twas worth the fire,

Worth the struggle, worth the bruises, worth your time!

And we'll sing and shout together

In that happy great Forever,

Take up courage, claim the mountain, start the climb!"

"Oh, I know you've traveled cliff sides,

And you've found yourself in high tides,

And you thought perhaps you'd finally rest awhile;

But you must call to recollection 

Every time that My direction

Slowly changed your tears into a happy smile.

For although it isn't pleasant

In this moment of the present

I've a home in Glory all prepared for you.

But you've got to carry crosses,

Not count earth's joys as losses,

As denying self you learn to choose to do."

"Yes, it's a climb!

There'll be boulders you must grapple,

And temptation as an apple

Surely will be waiting on a tree.

But you must not fear tomorrow,

Must not shrink in doubt or sorrow,

For each day you will climb beside of Me!

See, the mountaintop is calling,

Do not fear that rocks be falling,

Only take the steps I show, one at a time.

And someday up in Glory

You will sing and tell the story,

And be thankful for the mountain and the climb!

4-6-22