I had the opportunity to take a quick flight to Eastern Washington and Idaho last week with one of the pilots in our church. He offered to take me to a couple of the sites where our youth mission teams were serving. It was a picturesque day, with the exception of some low overcast at take off. It was not long before we climbed out of that and had spectacular views of Mt. Rainer, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens. What a great morning to fly!
I have to admit, I'm one of those geeky guys that loves to listen to radio traffic between pilots and air traffic controllers. I'm enthralled by the speed with which they speak and how everyone seems to understand completely what they're saying! There was one aspect that stood out to me, however, and that was each time Bruce (the pilot) spoke with a new traffic control center, they would give him an altimeter setting and he would then adjust the altimeter on the control panel.
What did that mean? Was it not working? Should I be concerned?
And so I asked Bruce what that was all about. He informed me that the barometric pressure was different at various altitudes and so each time he would speak to a new controller, he would have to, in a sense, re-orient the altimeter so that it was "true." Otherwise, where you think you are might be different than where you actually were!
It occurred to me that it's not too different in our lives as believers. Isn't it the case that we can get moving on through our walks of faith and suddenly not be on the same heading or at the same "altitude" that we thought we were? This situation or circumstance occurs and suddenly we are headed somewhere else. Even if we are not horribly off course, it could be just a bit that then eventually results in a much more pronounced difference. Left unchecked, it could end in disaster.
For me that "re-orientation" is necessary in things like personal devotions and prayer. It's so easy to get wrapped up in things that are in and of themselves very good, yet still alter our "course heading" to where we forget to take time to "get oriented" as we ought. It's always amazing to me how that one little segment of time can change my perspective so much. And so, missing out on that, and developing a pattern of missing that time eventually leaves me dry and spiritually parched.
Can you relate? At what altitude are you "flying" right now? And, are you sure? Might you need to get adjusted so that your heading is true? Take that time to get a true heading at the right altitude. Carve out those moments for study of the Word and for prayer and enjoy the view!
