Flight Training

DoC, Dad of Cameron shares this video as another metaphor for the experience of parenting and living with autism. It can feel all at once, nearly impossible and incredibly rewarding--like landing a 747. The plane metaphor reminds me of a story my friend, Barbara Klett, shared with a group of us praying last April for ASD Pray and Fast Day. She wrote:

In his book, Christ for Real, Charles Price describes three people sitting beside one another on an airplane. One is an experienced business traveler, one a first-time flier who is pretty excited to be flying, and one a first-time flier who is motivated to get on the plane only because the plane will take her to see her grandchildren for the first time.

The experienced traveler takes the journey in comfort, reading his book, napping, and casually eating the meal. He exits the plane relaxed, refreshed, and confident. He had watermelon sized faith in that plane.

The first-time, excited flier is a bit nervous, feels every bump, is aware of every odd sound. He exits the plane a bit tired, but fine. He had peach-sized faith in that plane.

The grand mum is completely uncomfortable through the entire trip, holds on to the chair’s arm rests with white knuckles, tries to eat the meal but ends up losing that. She exits the plane exhausted and worn out. She had mustard-seed-sized faith in that plane.

No matter the size of their faith, they all arrived at their destination at the same time. It wasn’t that the watermelon-sized faith guy landed 2-hours ahead of the mustard-seed-sized faith lady. They only needed enough faith to get on the plane. The plane took care of the journey.

God is taking care of our journey. Our level of faith in God is merely a measurement of our exhaustion level as we struggle through, or our refreshment level as we rest in Him. The comfort of the journey is up to our interpretation. It matters not the level of OUR faith; it matters in Whom we place our faith.

So, are you enjoying the ride? Trusting the pilot takes a lot of pressure off.


Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. Psalm 20:7-8

Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:20-22

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:19-21