FLYING EXPERIENCES 1
Jeanette Berry, May 1974
I have been threatening to write a
book on the many flying experiences with my husband. Our
"unusual" situations read like fiction, yet every one is real, and
every one carries a truth from the Word of God.
We made our first trip as a family
in Tom's 1947 Stinson (a "tail-dragger) the day after Tom received
his private license. I love to fly when you can see,
but as we flew over Indianapolis it was extremely hazy. I
developed a headache searching for other planes that might collide
with us in midair. Soon I heard the radio call our number
and tell us to watch for traffic, giving the location. I
realized that although we could not see them, Indianapolis tower
could see us on their radar and would tell us when another
aircraft was near. I was so relieved. I thought of
Hagar in Genesis 16:13, "And she called the name of the Lord
that spake unto her, Thou God Seest Me." Since that
flying experience Hagar's name for God has become mine.
If haze and thoughts of midair
collisions were frightening, I had greater things in store.
On that same trip it began to rain. I had only flown on
beautiful sunshiny days (still my preference). Flying in the
rain left me petrified. I had never realized that small
planes fly in the fain. During that time I wrestled with 1st
John 4:18, "Perfect love casteth out fear." I
certainly searched for perfect love because I was scared to death.
The worst was yet to come.
It is one thing to be on the ground
watching lightning in the sky. It is another matter flying
the in the sky with it. After haze, then rain, it took only
a slight flicker in the distance to put me in hysterics. Tom
actually landed the plane to allow me to pull myself together.
Flight service assured him weather was suitable and somehow I made
it.
I look back on that trip now with a
smile (and a little ashamed). One of these day---in Heaven
we'll look on our most trying times and realize how foolish we
acted. We will see that the dangers were not as real as we
supposed and that God was getting us ready for greater things.
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