Making Course Changes
My grandson, Payton, inspired this blog today. We’ve been packing up his family’s home for their move to Rusk, TX. Lots of course changes for this crew. All the birds have left the nest. Alexia, who loves Frisco, her many friends there, and she loves being a barista at a trendy coffee shop (and her marketing position with another company) rented her first delightful ground-floor apartment with a patio, courtyard and underground parking. Payton will also stay in the Dallas area as he continues to help run the family business, his real estate and investment businesses and finishing up his flight training. All that to say that this blog was inspired by my family’s course changes.
Staci and Larry will continue to build out their Epiphany Ranch (60 acres of land, lake, and property) as well as the EMwomen transitional living for healing and restoring women’s lives. The first tiny home was placed on the property and a precious, restored and whole young woman is temporarily living there. Another one of the women, formerly homeless, was able to acquire her first home with her two young grandsons in Rusk. All of this is for so much good. Thanks be to God!
Back to my grandson, Payton. He took his first solo flight a few weeks ago. Early on, I knew he had been “bitten” by the flying-bug when he was hanging out with friends who are private and commercial pilots. He had already been bitten by that bug, though, from his great grandfather who was a World War II combat pilot, as well as his Papa (my husband) and I who were private pilots. Payton has been relentless in his quest to fly. I’m so proud of him. And I’m also very proud of his instructor who has put him through the wringer in knowing every safety measure there is, while putting him to the test as he stalls the engine or opens a door in flight. He passed each test and I’ll be please to fly with him — like his sister did (but with the instructor in the co-pilot seat).
After living in 27 homes in Texas, Oklahoma and Canada since we first married, I know about course changes and corrections. Each time presented great opportunities and changes. I know each time God was directing, redirecting and providing for each adventure. We were not like those who lived in one home all their married lives. We were sojourners traveling from one place to another, like so many in the Bible. I think that’s one of the reasons my children are outgoing in their personalities. New locations meant new friends and new experiences. Each time we grew in faith as it was challenged many times and each time we saw God bless us and keep us. We did a lot of tweaking in those course changes – for good.
In flying, we have to make course corrections. I remember my first solo cross-country flight. Logic said the airport was right in front of me, but I had not paid close enough attention to making course corrections along the way. Wind changes in directions and intensity changed my course, but fortunately, only a few degrees. I wasn’t that far off course because, eventually, the airport I was to land at, was in sight. If it had been a longer and further flight, a few degrees could have put me in Timbuktu!
All these scenarios apply to our lives as well. Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart devises his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” In other words, we make plans, but the Lord makes course corrections along the way. Our heavenly Father wants us to succeed. Like my grandson’s instructor, He often allows us to get into sticky situations so that we learn and grow from them.
Seeing my children make course changes and corrections successfully has been this Mama’s delight. Maturity comes with each needed correction or change. As we start out on our “solo” ride each day, it’s important that we pay close attention to our “Control Tower”. In flying terms, they are people who direct planes flying in and out of airports and airspace for safe landings and flights. God is our “Control Tower” and we should listen for His voice to keep us on course. He helps us make the course corrections and changes we make our daily lives.
God is for us. He lovingly desires to help us adjust our direction and keep us on course. Like my family who have made some huge course changes for the good, may we all be so sensitive to God’s fine-tuning our lives. May we stop and listen for God’s voice. He is speaking. May we heed His course corrections and reach our destinations on time, every time!