“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify the Father in heaven” Matt 5:16
I was watching Carte Blanche one Sunday evening and they were profiling SA’s first female to qualify as a fighter pilot and the first woman in the world to fly the Gripen Jas 39C solo. Her code name Siren, Major Catherine Labuschagne is now the only female to form part of the SA Air Force’s elite 2 Squadron which flies the single- and dual-seat Gripens. “The Gripen is widely regarded as the world's top medium-weight fighter aircraft with a maximum speed of Mach 2 – twice the speed of sound, or about 2 400km/h – and a highly advanced sensor system,” according to Southafrica.info.
Judging by the information about the Gripen, one can understand what an achievement this is for Siren and particularly because she is a woman. On the surface it would appear as such a great achievement to be celebrated and rightly so. However this came after years of hard work and commitment to her goals. She boasts 1900 flying hours, 1000 of which have been in military jets. For her to get to this point, she had to also pass a series of courses and clock certain required hours flying the Impala Jet and the Hawk 120.
Celebrating her achievements, she described in the interview her experience of being alone in the cockpit, surrounded by just pure metal and raw power. The prize is not only being able to fly one of the most powerful fighter jets in the world, but also of being in the centre of space, overlooking the earth in all its beauty and glory - which is an exhilarating experience every time she gets on one of those machines. “In that space there is nothing one can do but purely adore the peace of it all,” she says. Most importantly for me though, was the fact that as the first and only female to qualify into the elite squadron, it makes her stand out. No doubt it took time and it didn’t come easily handed on a platter for her, the point is she made it through hard work and is now enjoying the fruits of her labour.
I was encouraged by her story – which I find relevant for us as we start out the new year. It is a time when we have completed ticking off what we had set out to achieve in 2010 and are now ready with our new lists to forge ahead in 2011. For some, there may be new goals, recurring goals, re-engineered goals etc, but for all of these items we have a picture of what the desired end looks like. However in between, there are steps, courses and different types of fighter jets that we have to fly and master before we get to the level of flying our Gripens – whatever the Gripen Jas 39c represents in your life. And when Siren talks about raw power, I remembered that we have on our side, a Father whose power for miracles is undeniable. He restores, re-energises, redeems, re-activates, re-aligns, releases, refines and any other thing that is needed for us to get to where we need to be. He puts those dreams in our hearts and He takes us from glory to glory.
We are reminded in Proverbs 3: 5 – 6 to Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. When we trust in Him and never attempt to rely on our own strength, he takes us by the hand until we reach our goals. He doesn’t promise it will be easy, but we know He will never forsake us. As Job said, “to God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his (Job 12:13).” And when we lean on Him, we will also stand out as all children of God are destined to be.
So as you go about navigating your goals in 2011, remember that you are destined to reign as you abide in the centre of His will for you. Let us be the ones to stand out, glorifying in everything the One who loved us first and makes all things possible.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the privilege to know you and serve you. Everything I am destined to be is all for your glory. Help me God to keep my eyes on you and to trust you with the plans and dreams you have laid on my heart. Have your mighty hand on me and my family as we forge ahead into 2011. Help me to see every new day as a fresh chance to start again. I commit every aspect of my life to you, trusting in your power to make me stand out - In Jesus Name, Amen.
