PREACHER’S NOTE 14 MAY 2023
Learning to Fly
My son Dylan is a pilot in West Africa. He works for a
charter company operating out of Bamako, the
capital of Mali, for the Red Cross, moving people
and medical supplies as needed, and for the mines,
moving people, supplies and gold. He recently became
a captain, a huge milestone in a long journey.
That journey started with a small boy rushing
out onto the front lawn and pointing at the sky
whenever a plane flew over. It continued after
school in a frustrating search for funding and opportunities.
Then, a long and strenuous training period
at 43 Air School in Port Alfred while working in the
admin block and the airport control office. A proud
moment for Mom and Dad as we were there to see
him get his wings, and a nerve-wracking first flight
with our son over the coast in a cramped little
plane.
This week the theme in the Methodist calendar is
Jesus promising His disciples the Holy Spirit. He’s not
with us physically any more, but is with us in spirit, in
our hearts. A pilot’s journey can teach us much
about our walk with God. We aren’t born to fly – we
need to learn by studying a whole bunch of topics,
practicing everything over and over, especially following
the rules laid out, listening to instructors as
they help us and correct us, and then remembering
all they said when we fly by ourselves. Doesn’t that
sound like the Christian life? Studying God’s Word as
He lays out how He intends us to live, practicing that
life in all circumstances, and listening to the Holy
Spirit as He guides us, corrects us and walks with us
on our own particular journey with God? Join us on
Sunday as we unpack this.
Blessings, Andrew.