Dangerous Activity

The navy has a philosophy regarding any specific dangerous activity. An individual should either avoid it, or do it a lot. Landing a multi-million dollar jet aircraft on a moving ship with great risk to the hardware, to the multi-million dollar education invested in the mind and body of the pilot, and to all the other people on the ship is not something they want many people to do. It is actually a ridiculous undertaking and were it not for the great value to the defense of our country and the projection of strength, would be utter folly. It allows for a necessary power that could not exist otherwise. I’m coming to realize that there are people in this world who are called to dangerous relationships. They are chosen by God, gifted by Him, and developed under His care to do things that most human beings should absolutely avoid. Trying to land a plane on a ship for most of the pilots in the world, let alone the average person, would guarantee a bloody disaster. But for those few very special chosen ones, they must do this a lot. They must continually hone and nurture the skill so it doesn’t get rusty. They must practice day in and day out during the sunny days and calm seas. For occasionally, late at night with the rain slashing and the wind howling, the deck pitching violently, that pilot will have to get that aircraft down safely. Even the most experienced will approach in a terrified sweat. All will be at risk. Death and destruction will be ready to pounce. All the skill and experience will be called on and will be strained to the breaking. And indeed, the breaking may happen. Thank God for those people who bear the burden of the defense our country. Thank God for those others who bear the burden of defending souls from the storms of evil poised to attack.