Articles
Fear of Reaching Out
In watching video analysis of private airplane crashes (ok, I have some unusual hobbies), a repeated theme in such disasters is the failure of the pilot to contact ATC (air traffic control) in either a timely or candid way when they first get into trouble. To be more specific, pilots are embarrassed to ask for help or are afraid they will get in trouble with the FAA and perhaps lose their license. So they try to solve their problems on their own.
The end result is all too predictable: their panic overrules reason or causes them to reject the advice ATC has given them; they lose situational awareness; they get “behind the airplane” and, sadly, many crash and often take others with them.
There is an obvious spiritual analogy here.
When dealing with hypothetical situations, or perhaps considering issues faced by others, it is easy to see a potential solution to a problem. But when it is our child, our decision, or our money we lose objectivity and become confused. Emotions overwhelm; we stop thinking sensibly and simply react in the moment. We “lose control of our airplane,” crash and burn.
I’m not even a pilot, but when listening to actual radio transmissions where a pilot is in trouble I can clearly hear the mistakes as they unfold. Sometimes all it takes is another set of eyes or ears to help us work through a crisis. It is even better when we can talk to someone who “has been there and done that.” “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2). But that is hard to do when brethren won’t call the control tower.
