I had my "Worship" playlist running through this morning and that line caught my attention. It is so true and something that I had a big lesson on yesterday evening.
So I worked an eight hour work day yesterday of physical labor that was really satisfying but also tiring. I had scheduled a flight for that evening an hour after work which would have given me an half hour to get ready for flying typically but we had to work overtime a bit so I had about 10 minutes to get ready for flying... which if I was renting a plane would not be allowed due to the fact that I had no weather reports and I hadn't done my typical pre-flight prep work that I should do. So needless to say I was a little rushed and stressed and tired.
I got to the flight club and my instructor walked up to me and said (like he normally does) "So Regan. How's the weather looking today?" "Uh calm and pretty clear....?!" I replied sheepishly (I hate when I don't come prepared) He gave me a silly grin knowing full well that I hadn't checked the METAR (pilot weather reports) for that day. Then he winked at me and asked "So how are you feeling today? Ready for your solo flight?" I groaned audibly, "Uh, maybe...?!" as soon as I saw him smile "that smile" I knew that was coming...
"Regan I feel completely safe and confident sending you solo right now and you know its not your first solo so you have some experience. I'll come for one circuit if you want me too but only one, I want this flight to be all yours. You think about it and come tell me after your walk around. Okay?" I walked to the plane and opened the door to the cockpit. I texted two friends asking for prayer, then I commenced with my walk around of the plane making sure it was air worthy from the outside.
If anything happens in flight it is almost always the pilot in command's fault... unless its a engine failure... but even then those can be prevented sometimes. So before any flight the pilot in command must make sure the plane is air worthy and safe, which means checking everything.
I deemed the plane air worthy and went and found Greg (my instructor). He came up to me and asked what my decision was. I asked him to come on one circuit with me. He stressed that he didn't think I needed him at all but would come to put me at ease. He said I had to start up the plane by myself though and that he'd meet me on the runway.
I completed the start up checklist, started the engine, checked my instruments, set my compass, did a radio check, completed my brake test and taxied to the runway were I picked up Greg.
*DISCLAIMER* Picking up someone with a running plane is not safe and I hate doing it. I would never recommend it, ever*
I did my pre-takeoff tests for the plane (again making sure its airworthy) and then set up for takeoff. "Full power applied. Air speed alive. Portage North Hotel Charlie Foxtrot taking off runway one four doing circuit for full stop" and we were in the air. I get pretty calm once I'm up in the air but I knew had to land and drop off Greg.
Once we were down and stopped he told me I did great and then unhooked his headset, got out of the plane and walked away. I backtracked the runway and then lined up for takeoff. I took a deep breath... Like a really deep breath. I knew I had to pray to try and calm myself so I prayed out loud. It's really weird praying out loud into a headset :)
Then I applied full power and was in the air in less then 30 seconds. When I turned base to final I was a bit high and a bit fast which made for a less then perfect landing so I had to backtrack once again. When I was backtracking at about walking speed I realized I had gotten a few texts so I checked them and they were from my boyfriend! I texted him that I was scared and he texted back "God is with you Regan" at that moment all my fear left me. And I took off again but this time I wasn't scared! I flew till I was forced down due to the coming weather. I didn't want to land! I was having to much fun! But I still came down. ;)
So the moral of the story: Perfect love casts out fear. Do not fear for God is with you. I need that reminder often enough. To often. Christ is always with you.
