It's now August and here I am, three months out from embarking on my life's dream of being a pilot for a major international airline. I've waited all my life for this, and it still hasn't quite sunk in that I'm actually here. As I prepare for the journey that lies ahead, I also realize the potential ramifications this could have on my walk with God.
When you're first hired as a pilot by an airline you start off as what's called a reserve pilot. Reserve pilots have probably one of the most stressful and difficult jobs on the face of the planet. It's an "on call" position and you are literally on-call around the clock (up to the maximum number of flight hours allowed per week/month by law) and have to be ready to report to the airport for your assignment at a moment's notice. It's entirely possible that I could get called into work at 2 AM on a Sunday morning. After several years you work your way up to being a line pilot, but even then pilots choose their lines based on tenure. Put it another way, I'll be getting the lines nobody wants at first.
In light of this, I fully suspect that I'll be working every weekend and major holiday for at least the first decade of my career, until I build up some serious tenure and don't get the last choice if what days I work, and even then I know I'll still be working some weekends and holidays since the airline business is one of those that operates 24/7/365. That, of course, means working on days that I should be spending in church.
So what is a guy to do when he finds himself working on Sundays? I know some people would say change careers, but that ain't happening! I just can't imagine doing anything else. This is the career for me. I still get my weekly sermon from CCJCCF, but whether I'll have time to read it is a different story (unless I do so on one of my days off, which I'll also be doing other things on). Regardless, religion/faith will by necessity be the last thing on my mind for the earlier part of my career. When I get seniority I'll try to schedule as many weekends off as possible, but it's no guarantee I'll be able to get all of them off.
Oh well, someone has to fly those weekend/holiday flights.
Has your job ever prevented you from going to church? What did you do?
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Comments (8)
Sometimes, you have to sacrifice some things in order to make a living. Just because you don't go to an actual church, doesn't mean you still can't serve God. You can pray anywhere. You can pray inside an airplane, even while you're flying it. What matters, is what's in your heart, not where you are or what you have to do at that moment. God is an understanding God, so He'll understand.
I don't think worship service is limited to Sunday. (I've seen churches for hosting worship service on Saturday). It's good to have a home church; but worshiping God is not limited by your home church or the day of the week.
I've busy schedule from my job but definitely it's not as hectic as yours! I've heard testimony in which people changed job. RNs
in my church that arrange their schedule so they can
attend the Sunday service as least once every other week as the
hospitals need them to work on some Sundays. your job allow you to travel around and even an opportunity to experience how Christians from other places worship our God~
I don't think that it matters what day you set aside for God. God said to keep the Sabbath holy, but he doesn't demand the Sabbath to be a certain day. As far as I can tell, your walk with God isn't in any danger if you set time aside for God even if it is around your hectic schedule. In your weakness, He is strong. It doesn't sound like the next ten years will be easy for you so your relationship with God will prove to be your strength in trying times. God has set an example of setting aside a day of rest after working hard. I don't think that changes due to an inconsistent schedule. Whenever and wherever you are able to rest, do so and spend some time with God worshiping him. It's a relationship. Honestly, all the sermons in the world can't replace a strong relationship with God. That's more important to God than "attendance". I hope these words are encouraging to you. God bless!
@StatelessPilot - I just wanted to tell you that I got to see the Boeing 787 in person and it is gorgeous! I thought you might appreciate that... lol
@TheyCallMePaulNow@xanga - It is a gorgeous airplane. My only gripe is that Boeing doesn't want to come into the 21st century when it comes to flight controls and they still opt for yokes instead of sidesticks in their airplanes. The yoke isn't bad per se, but nothing beats the luxurious legroom and spaciousness in the cockpit of an airplane fitted with sidestick controls.
@StatelessPilot - lol yeah, that isn't the best for the pilot, but I won't ever have that problem. I don't see myself flying a 787 anytime soon. lol
Where does the preacher go on Sunday? OK, so that wasn't funny. There are times I longed for a church, yet I had a job to do. Now days you can watch on your PC. I do. It may not be the same, but I can.t get out to church and I don't want to get tied up with most of the TV preachers. I used to work at PTL. Set aside your own Sunday. God will bless your efforts. Shalom.