I pray for this gift: “Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the Lord” (Proverbs 20:12).

That gift reminds me of a life-threatening event I experienced in 1992. I was flying IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) thousands of feet above the Earth in solid clouds, on a heading from Eugene, Oregon, to Burbank, California. I activated my autopilot by pushing a button on the instrument panel, then sat back and monitored the flight.

While flying across the Siskiyou Mountain range, with Mount Shasta just ahead on the left and the Trinity Alps on the right, all the plane’s electrical system went out, including the instrument panel and all communication with those monitoring my flight. 

I had to fly the aircraft, as pilots say, “Hands On.” Flying blind, I immediately went into emergency mode, knowing I needed a miracle beyond my training. I called out to God for help. I also told Him that if this day was to be my last day, it was a good day to go Home.

To follow my flight plan, I had to fall back on my foundational training and use the old-timer’s mathematical navigation system called “needle, ball, and airspeed.” It is an intense, rigorous countdown to measure altitude and flight path with timing and speed. It required constant, watchful course corrections. I couldn’t be distracted or let fear take hold. During my training to become an instrument-commercial-rated pilot, my instructor had a phrase he used regularly – “No matter what happens, fly the airplane!” 

Twenty-five minutes later, I took a glance outside and saw in that moment a tiny, narrow opening through the vast wall of clouds to an exposed patch of Earth. I pulled back the throttle, turned the plane on its side, dove in a tight spiral, and came out over Interstate 5 heading to Medford. Oregon. 

When I put my landing gear down, there was no electrical system to activate and lock the gear in place. Unable to speak to Medford Airport control tower, I followed emergency-landing protocol and made it down safely. Unbeknownst to me, I would call this valley our home seven years in the future. 

This event reminded me of the Scripture I posted yesterday. I had to remain vigilant, rigorously watchful, to make constant course corrections to keep from dying. 

Life is not a constant emergency. Visual flying is much more peaceful. Instrument flying can be relaxing if everything is working. However, it is necessary to make course corrections even when an emergency presents itself, not just to keep from dying but to live as God desires for us. It is a way of living that becomes our default. 

Course corrections are essential and pivotal, and Jesus is the only one who can keep us on His pathway. His corrections “take us by the hand in wisdom’s ways and point us to the path of integrity” (Proverbs 4:10-12).

Then, on the days or seasons when we can’t see anything but mountains of clouds and when nothing is working as it should, we can “keep flying and never give up.” 

Just as importantly, God gave me a gift—eyes to see! Not only spiritual and emotional sight, but the ability to literally see what I could have easily missed. He drew my attention to my escape route!