God First, Others Second
The short excerpt is by Braxton Brady and Lee Burns book, Flight Plan, and the Scripture is Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Captain Johnny Ferrier, a pilot for the famed Blue Angels, shreds across the blue sky. Onlookers at the national air show notice smoke billowing from the back of his Navy jet. On the radio, his superior pleads for Johnny to save his life. But Johnny does not make his move. He knows that if he bails, thousands of innocent bystanders will lose their lives in the crash.
Bail out! You still have time, his superior pleads. The stress of the G-force only allows Johnny to answer his superior by blowing three puffs of smoke, just to let him know that he was alright-that he was under control. The crowd watches in amazement as Johnny courageously steers his plane to the only place not occupied by people. A small meadow is where Johnny makes his final statement to the world.
Captain Johnny Ferrier s statement was one of ultimate honor for the people down below him. His courage to take his own life, for the lives of others, might be hard for people to understand, especially in light of Johnny s beautiful wife and children he left behind. However, the card his wife found tucked away in his wallet the day of his death explains why he gave his own life. It simply read, God first, others second, and myself third. Success in the mind of Captain Ferrier was different from what our culture teaches us. He was willing to give up the things of this world for the glory of God and the good of others.
Champions, have a great week and summer!-David Vining
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