I want to be like the parachuter, not the crow.
Weird intro I know, but let me explain…
I was driving home the other afternoon when I passed the local airport. I happened to glance up and see some swirling specks in the sky, slowly but surely descending. Immediately, I turned into a parking lot to watch it all happen. By the time I unbuckled to peer out my window, there was only one left. One tiny speck of a person flying through the air. The parachute was deployed, and he was very intentionally doing some sort of advanced technique where he laid at a horizontal angle, which allowed him to spiral downwards towards Earth naturally and beautifully. When he got closer to the ground, I watched him stand upright and stick the landing–hitting the ground with both feet and taking off running towards his group, who quickly embraced him and his adrenaline rush. I was amazed.
Later in that same drive home, I noticed a black, moving speck in the sky. My mind falsely assimilated this to be another parachuter, but it was only a crow circling something dead in the road. The crow had no intention of coming down any time soon, and had become comfortable up there, with an unimpressive lack of technique. While the crow soared in circles, it seemed to move with less purpose than the parachuter.
It was then that I realized something really important: I want to be like the parachuter, not the crow. I don’t want to circle what’s been dead in my past for too long. I want to move forward. Furthermore, I want to fall with force. I don’t want to aimlessly stay amidst the strong winds in my life. No, I want to alter my position to optimize help from the winds, to use them to bring me safely to the ground. When life brings me troubles, I don’t want to be drifted by the turbulence. I want it to shape my descend to my awaiting father. I want to remain focused on where I’m heading, not lingering or dwelling upon where I’m coming from. I want to hit the ground with the strength to land on both feet, and the determination to take off running towards the Lord. When I get there, I know He will welcome me with a huge and warm embrace, one that commends the perseverance from my journey there.
As I prepare for the race, I find myself amidst the ever-changing and fast winds of my senior year. With friends groups shifting, classes hurrying, and time seemingly-fleeting, it’s easy to lose my technique. I must say, leaning into the Lord has been so powerful lately, as I have been flying not falling in His love. It seems that the more force I give Him, the more form He gives me. I’m learning to let go, and let God take my flight. With his guidance, I am (and can always be) soaring.
Thanks for reading all of this. Hey, let’s get in touch! I’d love to be praying for you in some way, and I’d love to share more about how God is moving.
May the remainder of your February be filled with blessings and joy!
Lexi Hatten 🙂
