If the pilot says, “Never mind, we’re good to go”, should you be worried?

Bill Couchenour | Monday, August 01, 2011



My first flight was cancelled. We actually boarded, pulled away from the gate then sat on the tarmac until we heard the pilot say over the intercom, “Sorry folks, we’re having trouble with the flaps. They may tell you the flight is delayed but this plane isn’t going anywhere today.” We limped back and deplaned. They rerouted me through Philly on a fairly uneventful flight. But the flight from Philly to home (last one of the night) was delayed. We eventually boarded then waited for 9 people that were coming over from a Frankfurt flight. The pilot said it would just be a few minutes because the Frankfurt flight was already in. Nearly an hour later the Frankfurt 9 joined us and we were finally on our way. We pulled away from the gate and stopped – again.

The message from the pilot was genuinely heartbroken: “Folks, I have bad news. We have a mechanical problem and we have to go back to the gate.” The plane felt like it decompressed under a collective groan. We didn’t move for a couple minutes when the pilot came back on to announce, “Never mind, we’re good to go.” I strained to discern whether or not he was satisfied that the mechanical problem was truly resolved or if it was some sort of bravado. I found myself wondering about the personality profile of the pilot.

Often times in life we’re faced with whether or not this is a time to press on through the pain or pause and heal.

I have been faced with that question many times throughout my years in sports. Is it an injury or just soreness? My high school football coach taught me to assume it was just a temporary pain. In his mind, there wasn’t anything a little athletic tape couldn’t fix (I guess that’s why I stayed in another play after breaking my wrist in two places). There have been times when a good run actually healed the pain in my back. But there have been times when I pushed it too far and my wife had to gingerly help me into the back seat so she could drive me to the emergency room.

If I run with a knee injury I can do some damage to my body. But that’s nothing compared to the damage that can be done running through life with an injury to my soul. How about you? Are you going through a difficult time right now? Is it one of those times where you just have to grit your teeth and gut it out with God’s help? Or have you had a soul injury? If so, now’s the time to heal. I encourage you to listen in prayer, seek Godly counsel and get the injury healed. Jesus, the great physician for our bodies and our souls, is waiting for you now.


 Subscribe to this Blog

Life is a spiritual journey, regardless of where you are at this moment. In this journey we cross many bridges – sometimes unknowingly and, sometimes, to extraordinary destinations we could not have envisioned when we stepped on the bridge. I pray this blog, my words and the words of others, will at times be a bridge for you to discover and explore new places.

Links

Facebook
Twitter
 
LinkedIn
Cogun, Inc.
 
BuildingForMinistry.com
CKN




Recent Posts




Tags

Allman Brothers Erik Weihenmayer internet access positive experience renovation project delivery methods Southwest airlines ministry facility personal experience winning Ron Heifetz relationships soul building project anger Ed Bahler trust ENR Dorothy Sayers North Point Community Church airplanes Edward T. Hall Jim Collins sports customer service Casey Graham DaveTravis Christ-followers wisdom Shane Clairborne engaged workers reunion NFL church structures grace design design/bid/build Michael Grose positive attitudes Bill Couchenour big box buildout life Lois Swagerty gratitude Peter Drucker Foundation volunteers mountains American Idol money church renovation flying Starbucks Joe Myers Athens GA airport Elevation Church Velocity Conference Hong Kong traveling Quarry Community Church passion dialogue church building company church leaders scaffolding big box renovation pastors ministry Joan Goldsmith Caring project cost Multi-site churches Jim Tomberlin Building jobs Joan Ball God church building Todd Wilson hiking Trinity Grace Church well-lived life UCLA Board of Elders Francis Chan Thanksgiving Steve Furtick 4th of July bamboo church design Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit golfing team church facilities new facilities church designs Steven Tyler Pastor Greg Nettle Hugh Halter North Point Ministries creating value Future Travelers church builders renovating emotions Gallup Poll achivements construction Gospel adventure ministry space build Vince Lombardi Jesus organization frustration Christians focus Monticello, MN Andy Stanley Russell Investment Group best jobs church ministry Church Planters Congruity Competence Warren Bennis football Chris Weinand Drive Confrence PricewaterhouseCoopers backcountry faith valued churches integrity church Peter Drucker Dr. Ray Oldenburg survey market conditions unemployment appreciated RiverTree Christian Church finances Mark DeYmaz church building design religion Len Sweet re-purpose buildings Jon Tyson Exponential 2010 general contractor Sean Seay Cogun Christ followers Mark Clement Will Mancini atheist REI The Search to Belong economic times productivity leaders belonging Before You Build US Constant church builder third place church buildings prayer NACBA Ray Oldenburg Athens Church church building designs Dave Travis bid church construction injury service catalyst wealth Leadership Network Colossians 3:23 The Great Good Place architect church staff Fortune Magazine Clarity Cairns church vision pilot Unemployed work Alan Hirsch



Archive