Should Have
gtcotr/ss070206
Last September when it became evident that Hurricane Rita was going to hit the gulf coast at or near Sabine Pass, we found it necessary to not only evacuate ourselves but also some of our animals. So we set out for Northeast Texas where our extended family lives taking along two huge dogs and four of our horses.
The day after arriving in our home town it became necessary for us to purchase hay for our horses’ short term stay there. My brother-in-law and I drove to a nearby town and found our way to the home of an old acquaintance who we knew cut hay for the public. The man I am referring to is now in his late 60’s and walks with a limp from having lost a leg in a heavy equipment accident about a decade ago.
As we pulled into his driveway memories began resurfacing in my mind. In 1986 I used one of his hay fields to land my first little Cessna 150 in and occasionally hangered it in his hay barn. He was also a pilot. He never had bothered to officially get his pilot’s license, nonetheless he flew his planes right up until he lost his leg. I had not seen him in several years. Not since before his accident.
It was raining that morning and some men were in the shop behind the house so we pulled up, got out and went inside. Getting re-acquainted I asked if he had any hay for sale. It had been a dry year but the small amount I needed was of little consequence to him so we settled on a price and pulled around to the hay barn to load up the few bales.
Looking out of the barn I commented that the electrical high line wires on the south end of his hay field by the road had been taken down. Yes, he said, there had been a plane crash here in 1986. Two men were trying to take off on this short field, they just couldn’t make the climb. After that, since private planes were being kept on the property, the electric company put the lines underground.
Another plane almost crashed here the year before that one, he said. I know, I said. I guess you do, he replied … and then he told the story.
It was a hot summer day, low humidity with a high pressure system over the area. His son had an airplane for sale sitting on the hayfield. I was living in Louisiana and flew in that day with another pilot friend of mine to look at that airplane. It was a Cessna 172 with a 180HP engine, a constant speed prop and a STOL kit. It screamed!
We took off that day in about 400 feet and climbed like an eagle. They wanted $14,500.00 for it. I have often wished I had bought that plane, it was well worth the money.
Well, after the test flight that day, me and my friend got back into our Cessna 152 and taxied down to the North end of the field. We had about 900 feet useable before we had to clear the high lines and trees at the end of the field. There was a head wind of about 6 knots which was needed. The temp was about 100F and the density altitude was well above expectations. It was high, hot and dry.
After preflight I lined up with the runway, set the flaps, held the brakes and did my static run up. At max rpm I released the brakes and began the roll. On this particular grass field decision point was at brake release. We were committed, it was now all or none.
The owner along with his son who flew KC 135’s for the Air Force Reserve at Barksdale AFB, and a friend who flew A-10’s, were standing at the South end of the field by the hay barn ready to wave us a farewell. We could see them getting closer and closer but we were not gaining the speed necessary to rotate. I glanced at the windsock and saw another alarming sign, the 6 knots headwind we were counting on was gone … the wind had died … the sock was limp and now the take off was at a critical point.
We were going too fast to stop before hitting the trees and too slow to take off and make it over the high lines. Everything which could go wrong did, in a moment, in an instant, with no warning. Inside the plane, the stall horn was sounding and the controls were mushy, outside the plane the men were looking for cover to shield them from the imminent crash. Electrical high line wires and aircraft fuel seldom mix without an explosion.
I remember like it was yesterday, I had the yoke in my left hand and my right hand was fire walling the throttle. Flaps were at 10 degrees and the airspeed indicator was at 35 knots with the stall warning horn sounding. I was headed straight down the little grass runway looking at trees and wires. At the end of the field passing those men standing on my far right, covering their heads in a crouched position, I pushed the nose forward and then jerked back with all my might.
It was like everything went blank for a few seconds. When I opened my eyes again we were up in the air about 100 feet, over the trees and past the high line wires. The field was fading behind us and the plane was flying just fine, climbing out at best rate.
I looked at my friend sitting beside me who was a CFI himself and said the first thing that came to my mind. “That was exhilarating!” “Exhilarating!”, he said. “We should have crashed …”
We flew home with dirt and grass caked around the tail tie down from where it dug into the ground at rotation. We talked quite a bit about that day and what should have happened but didn’t. What did happen? Of course the truth is our only conclusion … God intervened. For what reason and purpose only He knows. We should have, and without Him we would have crashed and burned.
We finished loading and I paid the man for the hay and left there once again remembering that sometimes what seems like a ‘should have’ just isn’t because God has a greater plan.
Have you ever been saved from a ‘should have’ situation? I know I am not the only one. In fact, lets look in the bible at another person who should have, and without God would have, but just didn’t.
The Apostle Paul was a prisoner on his way to Rome when a great storm caused their ship to hit a reef near the Island of Malta.
Acts 28 (KJV)
1 ¶ And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE SWOLLEN, OR FALLEN DOWN DEAD SUDDENLY --- NO HARM CAME TO HIM!
NKJV
6 … they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead …
NIV
6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead …
Message
6 They kept expecting him to drop dead, but when it was obvious he wasn’t going to, they jumped to the conclusion that he was a god!
Was he a murderer or was he a god? Perhaps neither - Perhaps both!
When he should have, and without God would have --- he just didn’t.
He just shook it off! and went on about his business.
You do what you can do, but it’s not up to you.
What can we learn from this bible passage?
1. Bad things happen to good people --- so:
* Don’t be too quick to judge others
> As murderers or as gods
* Don’t be too hard on yourself
> Don’t let unforeseen difficulties stop you
> Don’t let other people decide who you are
* God’s opinion is all that really matters in the end
> Don’t go ticking God off!
2. When bad things happen to you and you’re good people … not perfect people, and not good in your own rights, but good in heart and intentions. When bad things attach themselves to you …
* Shake off the bad and stay on course
> Stay true to your course - carry on - finish your race
> God is taking you somewhere and you are already well down the road on a life long journey
> Don’t get depressed, derailed, detoured or deceived
* Don’t believe the press
> Sometimes you will be a hero
> Sometimes a zero
What I tell people who visit our church looking for a home:
Hang around long enough for us to impress you at least once and depress you at least once and then for another little while before you make up your mind about us.
What you will find is that:
God has a plan
He is succeeding
You have a chance to participate
When you should have and would have without God, just don’t be without God. Don’t let it kill you --- shake it off!
