Write2Ignite

Pilot in Command

My husband has a private pilot’s license that gives him the authority to take an airplane up in the sky, fly it around, and land it safely. When he is behind the controls of a plane, he is the Pilot in Command (PIC). Occasionally, he might temporarily hand off the controls to the person seated next to him. Someone he believes is capable of being the Pilot in Command and handling the plane for a brief period of time.

If there is turbulence, the co-pilot becomes weary, or there is too much air traffic, my husband will resume control of the plane to ensure safety stating, “My plane”. This is not said in an arrogant, “Get your hands off the controls” tone. Instead, it is said in an “I’ve got this” kind of way.

Ready to Take Off

Several years ago, during an email exchange with a good friend, he mentioned how, during his Air Force days, the saying was, “God is my co-pilot. So God lets you fly the plane ’til you break or ask for help. Pride stops the call for help.”

When my friend wrote this, I was in the middle of a season of pride stops the call for help in my writing. Ever been there?

We feel confident we can fly this bird, this writing business, on our own. Writer-friends mention how important it is to pray over our work and ask God for his clear direction. We agree. Only. Somewhere along the line we slack off. Our prayers aren’t as fervent. They aren’t as consistent. We tell ourselves it’s okay. God understands.

We are confident we’re headed for publication. Our manuscript is edited. Our flight plan is filed. We checked the weather report and found the right agent, editor, publisher.

The pre-flight walk around is complete. We kicked the tires and are ready to light the fires. Strapped into the pilot seat, we taxi down the runway. We send our manuscript on its way and wait.

We do fine until the turbulence of rejected manuscripts hits. The plane of our hopes and dreams drops. Maybe it’s buffeted with a crosswind of bad reviews or poor sales. Perhaps other authors’ planes descend from the clouds and cover the sky. Lots of chatter fills the radio, and we can hardly think for all the static of you have to do this, you can’t do that, you’ll never get it done that way, no one will read a book about that.

Let God be the Pilot in Command

We grow desperate. We’re weary. This isn’t fun anymore. In fact, it’s a whole lot of work. That’s when we finally admit there is someone who is a much better Pilot in Command than us. Someone who can handle the flight plan of our writing path a whole lot better than we can. That someone, we know, is God.

We might hesitate at first. Thinking we’d look weak if we gave the controls over too quickly. We tell our self that the turbulence will calm down. Maybe the other planes will get out of our way. Perhaps the static that fills our heads will quiet. Then again, maybe not.

Your Turn

Going back to what my friend said, God lets us fly our writing plane ’til we break or ask for his help. Pride stops the call for help. Could it be our pride is responsible for the death grip we hold on the controls of our writing? Are we determined to hang on until the last possible moment, rather than admit we can’t do this on our own? Are we refusing to let God be the Pilot in Command?

If, like me, somewhere in your writing journey, you strapped God into the co-pilot’s seat, might I make a suggestion? Switch seats. Let God be the Pilot in Command. As our PIC, he has the final authority over our writing. As one of my nephews told me, it’s God’s words. God’s timing. My pen.

God is alert to any situation which would require him to say, “My plane”, and remind us he’s got the situation under control. He will do a better job directing our writing flight plan than we ever could. He’ll raise us up above the turbulence, help us fly, and grease those landings when it’s time to land.

Are you sitting in the pilot’s seat? If so, how about handing over the controls, and let the real Pilot in Command fly the plane?

Here’s a post I wrote last month, in case you missed it.

I wish you well,

Sandy

Here’s what you can expect from me. In my posts, you’ll find words of encouragement for writers, book reviews, and discussions on the craft of writing. I am a former elementary school teacher, regular contributor to Guideposts devotional books, and a conference speaker. I write articles, devotions, and stories for adult and children’s publications. You can find me every Tuesday and Thursday at www.sandykirbyquandt.com. Please stop by.