Lindsey, a pilot with AIM AIR, based in Kenya, shares what Jesus brought to mind as she aided those fleeing Sudan. Leading us to ask ourselves, what do we hold onto tightly?
My sister fancies herself a “golfer.” It might be stretching the title, but for the most part she can hit the ball and stay in the fairway. During college, my dad would take her to the driving range under the pretense that if she was going to be a doctor, she should learn how to play golf. I’ve long suspected maybe it was more of a cheap outing, if you only hit the ball every fifth swing, a bucket of balls can last for hours.
On the other hand, you have me.
I inherited my grandfather’s genes and lack of patience for even mini-golf. Growing up, I routinely watched him get his ball rejected one too many times by the rotating windmill. At which point, he would squarely line up over the ball, turn ninety-degrees to the left, and solidly drive his little yellow golf ball into the adjacent corn field.
I always admired that.
To this day, I wonder if someone ever opened a bag of frozen corn only to find one of the many balls my grandpa drove into that field.
So, my grandfather and I didn't have the proper grip, but what is the proper grip?
The golf grip: It’s not too tight, and not too loose. It's just the right amount, passing energy all the way through the swing. With the correct grip, the golfer and club become one seamless force to finesse the ball where you will it to go.
As a Pilot, this is a hard call to receive. A request for evacuation.
If you’ve caught the news lately you’ve seen the recent conflict in Sudan. We routinely operate flights throughout South Sudan, but are unable to enter Sudan airspace. War is familiar to many in this region, and this most recent uprising brought a new level of unrest to a people who know violence all too well.
A friend of AIM AIR found his extended family caught up in the violence and called to see if we could help. His family fled the war in Sudan by walking and a series of bus rides. While it normally takes six hours, they arrived at the South Sudan border after three hard days.
On the ground, we made a very quick turnaround, and as we loaded their belongings into the cargo pod, I couldn’t help but think that this was precious cargo. They had to choose what they would need to grip tightly to and what they could let go.
"It takes courage to live through suffering; and it takes honesty to observe it." -C. S. Lewis
Can you imagine fleeing all that you own?
This family fled all that they call home not knowing if they would return in months, years, or very possibly ever again. In the West, we never entertain thoughts of losing all that we own. Barring some sort of economic meltdown or natural disaster we rarely give thought to losing everything. In large swaths of the world, starting over is a very real possibility.
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. -Colossians 3:2-3
This got me thinking about what I would pack in my bag. What would I bring, what could I leave behind? What do I grip tightly, what do I hold loosely?
I want God to help me be like the golfer with a proper grip, not too loose, not too tight. Clinging to what matters, Jesus, and His Kingdom.
I pray when you hear these stories on the news that you would think about what you’re holding onto. Regardless of how you feel about refugees and how distant their stories seem, when you hear of people fleeing in a moment’s notice, pause and imagine yourself in their shoes. What are you clinging to tightly, what can you hold more loosely? How’s your grip?
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Pray.
Pray for the situation in Sudan. Pray for God to continue to stir your heart for those outside of yourself. Ask God to help open your eyes to your own grip on the things of this world. He will help you hold tightly to Jesus above all else.
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About the Author: Lindsey Gray lives in Nairobi, Kenya, where she serves as Chief Pilot for AIM AIR. AIM AIR is a support service of Africa Inland Mission which exists to establish Christ centered churches among Africa's unreached peoples. Lindsey holds a B.S. in Aeronautical Science, a B.A in Religious and Philosophical Thought both from Rocky Mountain College, and recently received her Masters in Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary. She flew her first solo flight at the age of seventeen and holds a FAA Commercial single/multi-engine pilot certificate, instructor ratings, and is a certified airplane dispatcher. She enjoys being outdoors and has cycled cross-country; in addition to being the youngest female accepted to compete in the Furnace Creek 508, known as the "Toughest 48 Hours in Sport." When she's not flying an airplane, or office chair, she enjoys baking, game nights, hosting friends, and time with family. Most importantly, she's passionate about her role in spreading the Gospel to unreached peoples.