#4 – Trust
July 15, 2019Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. ~Proverbs 3:5 [CSB]
Earned trust is one of life’s most valuable commodities. Legendary management guru Peter Drucker once said that organizations are no longer built on force but by trust. I believe communicating and receiving trust stems from God, Who remains trustworthy in all situations. In aviation, passengers trust their lives to pilots, flight crew, air traffic controllers, mechanics, engineers, and regulatory infrastructure.
Over the past century, aviation has experienced failures rooted in poor design, human error, and organizational pressures. Political and business leaders have broken trust from Watergate to Enron. Pete Rose slugged 4,256 hits during a historic career but gambling destroyed his legacy. The Commissioner banned Rose from baseball for life. The greatest hitter of all time has no path to Cooperstown. Fun fact: Rose has 1,100 more than baseball’s current active hit leader: 39-year old future hall of famer Albert Pujols. Trust can be broken in a moment, replaced by skepticism, anxiety, or frustration – rooted in fear.
He hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but one of
power, love, and sound judgment
In the early 1950s, Britain launched the Comet, a new passenger jet aircraft. Three mysterious crashes occurred during a short time – two off the Italian coast. Investigators discovered a square window design bred premature metal fatigue cracks, leading to in-flight decompression failures. Engineers redesigned the windows with rounded edges, but the Americans had launched the Boeing 707, which took over the global jet market. The largest Comet customer became the Royal Air Force, operating the military variant known as the Nimrod when the simple design flaw was corrected. The question on everyone’s minds in the 1950’s: Are jets safe?
Around 2010, perceived high costs of emissions controls led Volkswagen engineers to cheat over the past decade launching their first- and second-generation diesel models. Rather than sell high-quality cost-efficient transportation (as perceived by customers) they secretly programmed the car’s engines to run differently during EPA testing. Normal software programming included operations emitting up to 40 times allowable pollutants. Slapped with stiff penalties worldwide, industry analysts say VW’s costs of the scandal range from $18 to $30 Billion. Manufacturers seem focused on developing and promoting electric technology.
With a Super Bowl berth on the line, referees missed a crucial pass interference penalty with less than two minutes remaining in the Saints/Rams 2018 National Football Conference championship. Fans, coaches, and owners lobbied for a new policy change mandating video review in similar situations moving forward. Video review of referee and umpire decisions (now even ‘non-calls’) has become the new norm because officials’ decisions aren’t completely trustworthy. Why? Because people make mistakes. All of us. Myself. And you too.
Struggles, setbacks, and challenges knock us down. When something I believe in crumbles, where do I turn? How do I respond? Scripture contains rich treasures revealing God’s ways, plans, and heart.
- Because people make mistakes.
- All of us.
- Myself.
- And you too.
God encourages His children to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9) and reminds us He hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment (2 Timothy 1:7). In aviation lingo, I would define the Bible as an operating manual, describing the origin of life, identity of God, purpose of man, how God wants man to live (morality), and His destiny for all. Rather than a worldview of reliance and trust on men (or self) I want to pursue a worldview centered upon the Bible.
What do you trust in?
Describe your worldview.
Flight and Faith blog: drmitchellmorrison.com
#2 – Delight
June 28, 2019Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart’s desires.
~Psalm 37:4
Eternity with Him
Baseball fans experience happiness when their team wins, but they delight when their team wins the championship. My Angels won it all in 2002. The California Angels lost to the Brewers in 1982 despite leading two games to none. In 1986, they lost in the playoffs after blowing a three-run lead over the Red Sox in the ninth inning at home in Anaheim. The opposite of delight = first baseman Bill Buckner’s game six fielding error of a dribbling grounder against the eventual ’86 champion New York Mets. To begin the World Series-winning 2002 season a man named Brad Burlingame threw out the first pitch in Anaheim.
Brad’s brother, American Airlines Captain Charles “Chic” Burlingame commanded one of four jets hijacked by Islamic terrorists on September 11, 2001. A retired Navy veteran, Chic grew up in suburban L.A., riding bikes with his brother Brad around Angels Stadium. Brad arose September 11, 2001 to the shock of burning buildings on TV. What would happen next? A family friend phoned Brad, “Chic has been killed.”
On the ten-year anniversary, Orange County Register reporter Eric Carpenter told Brad Burlingame’s story of healing. Flight 77 had crashed into the Pentagon, killing 189 on the aircraft and another 125 on the ground. Full of jet fuel, the aircraft and building burned, leaving little remains. Recovery workers found a singed prayer card from his mother’s funeral Chic had carried. “I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there, I did not die.”
Mr. Carpenter wrote: Says Brad: “It was my mom talking to us, saying, “’He’s OK; he’s with me now.’” Although Brad Burlingame died of cancer in 2015 his family’s story serves as an inspiration of finding delight in the midst of tragedy. Hope of eternity in Christ.
Angels fans remember the delight of winning the final game of major league baseball’s 2002 season. I celebrated with Angels fans as Darin Erstad caught the final out of their 2002 World Series game 7 win against the Giants. After many disappointing seasons, we finally won the last game of the season – baseball’s holy grail.
On September 10, 2001, I served as the overnight Senior Duty Officer at Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, waking up to see on TV the same horrific sights Brad Burlingame and many others will never forget. God uses things for His good, including Chic Burlingame’s prayer card that survived the fiery Pentagon crash.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die.
Yes, I delight in baseball. But I also delight in the LORD and look forward to the desire of my heart: Eternity with Him. I hope Jesus can introduce me to the Burlingame brothers in heaven.
Where were you on September 11, 2001?
What do you delight in?