Night flight!
Night-Flight and Trust:
Hey friends! I’m not sure what the weather is like where you are, but spring is in the air here in Oklahoma. Our runway is slowly transitioning from a dead brown to a vibrant green and daffodils are popping out. Since I can now fly without my instructor, building up flight hours has been quite easy. Whenever I have an hour or so free, I hop in the plane and practice some landings or maneuvers. Also, I’ve had the opportunity to finish my night flight requirements recently. This consisted of some very, very late nights (like not finishing until 1-2 in the morning kind of late), and me trying desperately to stay awake! I enjoyed the smooth air at night, but overall, I am very glad to finish my required 3 hours of night flight. With keeping so busy, I didn’t have time to write my usual newsletter but I’m including a short article that will give you a peak into the cockpit as I fly!
“Skyhawk 036, report left midfield downwind for 17”
Hundreds of stressed thoughts flooded my mind. This was my first solo cross-country and first time flying into Stillwater Regional Airport’s controlled class D airspace. What if the controller forgot me? What if I mistook his instructions? What if he never cleared me for base, or final? A seasoned pilot would most likely smile at my worried thoughts as I descended into pattern altitude over the small town of Stillwater. I leveled the airplane, adjusted my throttle setting, confirmed my location with a glance at the runway, and reported, “Stillwater Tower, Skyhawk 036, left midfield downwind for 17.” The quiet churning of the prop felt unbearable as I anxiously awaited his next instructions.
How often do we find ourselves in this scenario with God? He gives us some instructions, and we begin to worry. What if God doesn’t follow through with what He said? What if God doesn’t provide for us? What if we never hear His next instructions? What if He just leaves us where we are? I’ll be the first to admit being in this situation so many times. Stress mounts as I impatiently wait on God. The quiet drone of life feels unbearable.
The few seconds that felt like minutes quickly evaporated as the radio crackled to life. “Skyhawk 036, cleared left traffic.” A quick moment of relief switched to more worries. What if I was never cleared for landing?! Pictures scurried through my mind of endlessly flying the pattern without ever receiving landing clearance. You’re probably smiling by now about my lack of faith in my controller. He’d probably been working that job for years before I’d ever sat in a Cessna’s cockpit; maybe even before I was born. I quickly came abeam of my point of touchdown and smoothly pulled my power back to 1500 rpm, lowered 10° of flaps, and pulled my carb heat. The plane steadily descended at 500 feet per minute. A lazy turn into base followed by 20° of flaps further slowed my airspeed. I gazed up final ensuring no other plane was on a collision course. When would the tower clear me to land?
My walk with God is the same way. He’s been working His job longer than our finite minds can imagine (Job 38:4-7). He shows Himself faithful yet I still doubt His guidance. Honestly, though, there isn’t a single good reason to doubt Him.
“Skyhawk 036, cleared for landing 17.” Relief washed over me as I dropped my final 30° of flaps and lined up for a beautiful landing. The plane floated downward and shuddered to a stop after a not-so-smooth application of the brakes. Well, I can’t quite say that the landing was beautiful and smooth (a drifting sports car would probably better describe that landing), but I was safe on the ground. I did a few more flights in the pattern and departed their airspace to the south.
I became much more comfortable with flying into controlled airspace that day, but also learned something about God. God is like that controller. I so often doubt God’s guidance, timing, and instructions. However, He’s always there with perfect timing. He’s been perfectly controlling the pattern for years with a track record of no collisions. No matter what, I can trust that He will safely guide me. Will you choose today to trust God’s perfect timing in your life?
I hope you enjoyed being able to ride along with me at Stilwater Airport! It was a fun flight and God used it to demonstrate to me how I can trust Him with my future, college, and etc. Thank you for being a part of my aviation ministry and helping prepare me for mission service in Alaska!
Micah Grady
Note: My organization is transferring donations to a new platform called Give Butter (funny name). The old link will still work, but in the future, it will be easier if you use the new platform at this link: https://givebutter.com/MissionAviation. Please let me know if you have any issues transitioning. Thanks!
Prayer Requests:
For me to be ready for checkride soon!
For my friend Lincoln and I as we prepare for mission service in Alaska.
For a second flight instructor.
For the unreached people of the world, who are waiting for someone to bring them the gospel.
Comments