How Far Can You See?

November 2, 2015

Vision is a key part of our lives. We open our eyes in the morning, close them in the evening, and in between we record a series of life of events.

Going to the eye doctor keeps eyes healthy. This allows our lives the clear picture of who we are and what is around us. We enjoy seeing life’s details, stunning landscapes, autumn leaf colors, smiles of people, and we share these moments through media recordings. Think of when you captured a photo, took a video, or painted a picture. What did you see that you wanted to remember?

Another part of our vision includes mental effort. Financial planning, career choices, hobbies, recreation, family time, retirement, and afterlife, all require vision. We seek to make good choices and benefit from the outcomes. Where do we get such vision?

What do we see in the span of a day? For flight crews it begins with a preflight analysis of a trip, looking at charts, reviewing flight plans, checking vital notices of airport and airway operations, and of course in checking the weather. Plan well and you get a good outcome.

Arriving at the plane and beginning and exterior walk around continues the flight. Careful detailed inspection of wheel condition, hose connections, wings, fuselage, air vents, flaps, and well, you name it! Many parts make up the plane and exacting checks insure things will operate well. Checks complete and the next step is ready.

Departing from Shannon Ireland to the U.S. mainland on an October evening, the four crews share flight duties. One crew pair flies while the other rests for the next leg. It’s our plan, a vision, and we can see the future for the next seven hours. A loaded plane and autumn evening sky beckon us to the great adventure ahead. Off we go!

Cruising for several hours finds all is going well, with one unexpected change. Our Operations center sends a message to first land at another airport to clear Customs. Our vision also changes with new demands to flight plans, communicate with air traffic control, and with the company dispatchers.

Arriving at the first destination at Washington D.C. Dulles airport, the crew clears U.S. Customs. The process goes quickly, thanks to a planeside visit from Customs Officer. Fuel is added for the next leg and we soon continue just a couple of hours later launching in the darkness towards Dallas/Fort Worth.

A sunrise greets us enroute, sharing welcome beams of light, clearing the way for the morning and a new vision. Early morning traffic is light and we get air traffic control to route us quickly to the approach and landing. Parking and quick unloading of cargo, fueling, and new flight plans keeps us on our new schedule. Then we take off for final destination of Miami, feeling good about our trip. After all, our vision got us this far, right?

Cruising at 41,000 feet gives a spectacular view of the earth. A deep blue sky above, a light blue horizon and crimson sunrise, and dark shadows on the earth below. Visual contrasts and a few choice photos taken enhance our journey. Again we feel good.

Suddenly the airplane systems display shows an unexpected message, “IRU Center”. This is one of three inertial navigation units used by the plane and the message indicates a problem. Our clear vision has become clouded!

We have two other units to guide us. Such is the nature of redundancy. Addressing the system message requires reading and following a checklist from the quick reference handbook. Our sight allows us to read and follow the instruction. Our mind guides us through the analysis and completing the task. But our emotions have increased concern, uncertainty, and doubt. Three key elements as to how we see things. How do we deal with them?

Reading the checklist states the procedure is to identify the faulty system. This seems easy. It’s the center unit! The next step is to switch the unit’s control to Attitude from Navigation. But that means the loss of the center system’s vital capabilities. Our concern grows and we ponder the instruction.

Our faith is tested. We comply with the instruction, looking to see the result on the status page screen. There is no change.

Reading the checklist further, it states to shut off the center unit. It adds the warning: “Action Is Irreversible” We pause. The consequences are clear. So too are the instructions. But can we bring ourselves to follow them? We are uncertain what this will mean. Another discussion is held between ourselves and we agree to follow the instructions. The center unit is switched off.

Again nothing changes. Then we realize our hesitation was unwarranted. The unit was already off! It had a malfunction several minutes before and stopped working altogether. Our modest effort was to move a switch to the Off position. That is all. Our faith was modest. Now, it grows a little larger.

Landing at Miami and parking, we complete the checklists and head to the hotel. A discussion of the malfunctioning system with the mechanic brings us news that it will be repaired soon. Our faith now increases with the words of assurance.

What guides our lives?

Reading from the New Testament of Mark 10:46-52 provides this message.

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/mrk.10.niv

46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”52 “Go,”said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.”

Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

How far can you see?

Two messages from friends arrive with news. One person works at a new job in healthcare at a hospital. It’s their first days on the job after completing orientation training, and after many months of job searching. They are very happy for the career opportunity. But the news is mixed:

“I got called in the last two nights. I worked and slept! Soooo exhausted. The first night I worked was very eventful. We lost a patient. It was hard on the whole staff involved. Sorry for my delayed response.”

Faith tested, vision challenged.

A second person writes about previously seeking advice for getting a new computer. They work a service industry position and have modest income. But a gift of a notebook has brightened their life. They write:

“I can’t thank you enough. This selfless act of kindness on your part is going to make a huge difference in my ability to Serve within the Kingdom of God. I'm so excited to see what God is putting on my plate. Actually, yesterday I figured out a few huge blessings that have fallen into my lap with your Gift and I'm diligently pursuing them. Now I can be more prepared….. I'm going to work now. Have a Wonderful Day & Thank you. Most Importantly God bless you mightily.”

Concluding this story brings a message about gratitude from a sermon by pastor. Dr. Robert Sheldon, Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian church.[1]

He asks, “How far can we see? Not very far. Hope hopeful can we be? Very hopeful! …. Be guided by gratitude, today and every day.”

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[1] Robert Sheldon, Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian church, Bloomfield Hills, MI. , “How Far Can You See?” October 25, 2015