My work has provided me with a plethora of great opportunities to learn and grow through attending intentional and focused professional development conferences over the years. I give a great deal of credit to those travels for the growth as a leader I have experienced throughout my career. "You gotta go to grow" is my mantra for success as an educational leader. Recently as I sat on the runway preparing for take-off, a mundane safety presentation that is shared before every flight caught my attention and prompted today's Flat Tire Message. "Two exits to the rear of the plane and one in the front of the plane", "Your seat is a flotation device if needed", and "Please keep your seatbelt fastened while you are seated due to the possibility of turbulence" are all common instructions that the majority of seasoned travelers tune out during the 5 minute presentation. On this particular flight one of those instructions took on a totally different meaning.
"In case of an emergency, an oxygen mask will drop from the ceiling, place your mask on first before assisting others." Like I previously said, I have heard these same set of instructions on Delta, American, United, Southwest, and other airlines countless numbers of times. But on this particular flight it took on a totally new meaning. I looked to my right and seated in the window seat beside me was my seven year old granddaughter Ella. If there is an emergency and danger is rearing its ugly head, I would and will do whatever it takes to take care of my granddaughters, so if there is an emergency on a plane, my thoughts are not about self, but rather all about taking care of my precious cargo. That's a no-brainer right? "Who would instruct adults to place their own safety above the safety of a child?" was the thought racing across my mind. If a car was speeding out of control and one of our granddaughters and I were walking down the street, I wouldn't jump out of the way first and then move my grandchild, nor would I run for shelter from a tornado unless I first knew all my loved ones were safe. So, where do airlines come up with the mentality of helping yourself first before you help others? That my friend is the core of our message today.
When an airplane loses compression the oxygen quickly dissipates, creating a situation where there are only seconds available before folks begin to pass out from lack of oxygen. If I, as the protector, prioritize placing the oxygen mask on someone else, there is a strong possibility that I could pass out before I accomplish getting their mask on, thus creating an even more dangerous situation where not only does my grandchild need their oxygen mask placed, but now I could be laying there unconscious unable to do the very task that I am so deeply committed to complete for the safety of my passenger pal. The very instinct that causes me to want to place others first, could actually be the factor that leaves my little granddaughter in perilous danger. In other words, you can't take care of others if you don't take care of yourself.
We can look at this through the literal lens of physical care and this is essentially a true statement. If you are a caregiver of a child, live with a disabled family member, or take care of anyone else in need, you must take care of yourself or the expansiveness of the responsibility will rapidly take its toll on you. Rather, what my epiphany through this occurrence was is more about how we as men and women of faith can't help save the world or even those so near and dear to us if we aren't taking care of our own personal relationship with God the Father first. Jesus chastised an audience with this literary gem regarding self help before helping others. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7:3-5. Contextual application for us: if we aren't in a true relationship with God the Father, how can we expect to share the "good news" of redemption of our sins and the salvation which leads us to life eternal in Heaven? I suppose the question we all have to ask ourselves is, "Can we walk the talk we talk?".
The life we live is a walking testimony of our trust and faith in God. We especially have to be careful not to talk about our walk, but walk in a completely different manner. Going through the motions, without regularly reflecting on our true relationship with God creates a scenario where we are not going to be able to help our neighbor with their oxygen mask of faith in their time of need. If we aren't authentic, others won't look to us to lead them to salvation. Essentially, if our faith is being lived out, then we can help serve others before we serve ourselves. The Apostle Paul noted in I Corinthians 9:27 that "I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." Paul knew he had to be in constant training so that he could aid others by showing himself to be a true follower of Christ.
Are you in a place where your relationship with God places you in a position to assist others more than just doing for self? Would you say that you are equipped to help out your neighbor before helping yourself? Is your faith enough to put your neighbor's oxygen mask on before your own? For us to truly call ourselves disciples of Christ, we have to be able to lay down our life for the benefit of someone else. Jesus did that for you and for me and he wants us to pay it forward today and tomorrow!
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Coach Carter
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