The Wind Beneath My Wing

Thoughts of An Aviator

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Touched By The Master’s Hand

July 3rd, 2008 · 2 Comments

Waiting To Fly

Many years ago when I was listening to Christian radio I heard a song.  I cannot remember the title of it or just who wrote it but I will always remember what it was about. 

It told a story about  an auction and certain items that were being auctioned off.  One of the items being sold was a very old violin.  People had obviously been allowed to look at it and the consensus among those who were there, especially the auctioneer, was that it wasn’t worth very much.  As it was the last item placed upon the auction block, the bidding started at simply one dollar.  Then it rose to two and then finally three.  Suddenly, an old man came forward and to everyone’s amazement he picked up the old worn musical instrument and placed it beneath his chin.  With the bow in his hand he then played a beautiful melody like one that would be nothing less than angelic.  The auctioneer then turned and changed the bidding price to begin again at one thousand dollars, then it went to two and then it jumped to three………..!  The violin only became valuable after it was touched by the master’s hand. 

I can remember twenty-one years ago learning to fly an old DC-3.  It was a beautiful old airplane built in 1939 and was actually the only C-41A every built before it was reclassified as a DC-3.  This particular airplane had giant Pratt and Whitney engines with some twenty-seven hundred horses between the two of them and a ninety-six foot wingspan.  A DC-3 was no easy plane to learn to fly.  It was not near as sophisticated as aircraft of today, and it had terrible ground handling qualities.  During a takeoff or landing you really had to be on your toes.  It was unforgiving of any miscalculation of the wind direction or a pilot’s inability.  Coming from flying small Cessnas to something that placed my head sixteen feet above the ground while sitting in the pilot seat was a large change in itself, not to mention moving the large heavy control surfaces. 

 I can remember one gusty, windy day landing at Addison airport in Dallas, Texas.  Everything on the approach to landing was normal until just before touchdown.  The strong crosswind began to move the nose of the airplane off my course straight down the runway.  I under corrected…… and what was bad ……just got worse.  The view out the co-pilot’s cockpit window now was not that of a long runway but of wide open spaces and cotton fields.  Just as quickly as I had made a bad thing worse the old captain with some sixteen thousand hours under his belt instantly took the controls from me and in a blink of an eye total control was restored.  I continued on to make a successful landing.     

In life I have the opportunity every day to choose and either try and control my life or let go and let God.  Jeremiah the prophet said in Jeremiah 29:11-13,  “For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord,  “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me,  when you search for Me with all your heart.”    Has your life been “touched by the Master’s hand?”    Is God at the controls of your life?          Then let go!

Steven A. Johnson

(C)2008

 

Tags: Thoughts

2 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Dee Jay // Jul 7, 2008 at 2:40 pm

    I like the website Steve and really enjoyed all three of your stories. You have a great gift of crafting words and finding spiritual insights, keep them coming! I especially enjoyed the Jeremiah 29 passage, it really spoke to me today. Our school is entering into a building campaign and the financials seem overwhelming right now. I need to remember that this is God’s plan, not ours, and seek Him earnestly through all of it. I greatly appreciate your friendship!!
    Dee Jay

  • 2 Blanche // Jul 10, 2008 at 8:29 pm

    Hi Steve,
    I really enjoyed your stories. I have only flown a few times, but it is very exciting to me. You are truly blessed to be doing something that you love so much. I hope those you fly around the world, know how fortunate they are to have a Christian like you flying their plane.