Prone To Wander, Lord I Feel It

This is the first week since we moved south that I have been on the schedule to fly. I have been doing an initial evaluation with our Instructor Pilot. We are doing a general review of training maneuvers, some of which I have not performed in quite a while.  For the past couple of years, I have done very little flying with a flight instructor, so what bad habits and sloppy performance have crept into my flying have gone largely unnoticed.

When another set of eyes are watching, the small errors seem much bigger and the big errors feel nonredeemable. The altimeter needle that used to feel pretty solid has been wandering like a lost puppy. I didn’t notice it doing that before! Truthfully, I can still fly safely. Under scrutiny, though, my performance needs improvement. I’m tempted to blame the airplane or the weather, but I know that won’t cut it. It’s time for me to buckle down and shape up. I have some work to do.

In my heart, there is another opportunity for growth. My spiritual discipline and desire for God is lukewarm. When I’m solo, I can excuse a wandering heart just as easily as a wandering altitude. How easily I grant myself pardon! The Holy Spirit comes to me as a gentle instructor, guiding me to truth. If I shun His instruction, I will live on in self-deceit.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

I’m thankful for a skilled and gracious flight instructor who is willing to call out my deficiency and help me regain precision. I am more thankful for a gracious heavenly father whose mercy does not grow tired of my wandering.

Here’s my heart, Lord. Take and seal it.
Seal it for thy courts above.