I have always admired Steve McQueen’s choice of living at the Santa Paula
Airport. What a great idea, renting or owning a hangar big enough to keep all
your two and four wheeled toys in, plus access to your plane if needed. He
wrote of waking up each morning, opening the hangar door and letting the sights
and sounds of small aircraft fill his morning coffee appointment. Now I don’t
fly, nor drink coffee, but over the years have looked into renting a hangar and
moving into it. Building a small kitchen with a living area, and a loft for the
bedroom. Leaving lots of room for motorcycles and cars, no more waking up and
wondering if you shut the garage door, when the hangar door was shut, you were
safe and securely in for the night. Still in the back of my mind, but lack of
funds still the major deterrent.
But when visiting the Santa Paula Airport for the first time, we checked
out the hangars, rode around the airport, had breakfast at the café adjacent to
the runway. It was fun watching the planes take off and land, and I could see
Steve and his wife sitting having coffee in my minds eye, sitting among the old
motorcycles. Never a bad way to start a day, sure beats any commute down the
I-15 corridor any time. But after we ate, we went and stood just off the
runway, and watched as all the private planes took off and landed. No barriers,
no police, and no signs telling us not to, we just stood a safe distance, and
after a landing, would stand on the runway until the plane went out of sight.
More fun than looking for an out of state license plate from your parent’s back
seat, I was amazed at how they waved and weren’t freaked out by us being there.
And others were doing what we did, something about the sights and sounds when
standing on the runway made it entertaining. Like I said, I don’t fly, but I
don’t surf either, nor race 1/4 mile drags, but still I like to watch from a
good viewpoint, to feel the action, smell the exhaust, and hear the engines
roar. And so I have found it almost restful standing on the runway watching
all the planes take off. And have done it a few other times at other airports.
Small, private ones that is.
With security a top priority at major airports today, you would think
access would be rather limited. But some 20 years ago when selling to major
airline accounts at the airport at Lindbergh Field, a plane had landed on its
nose, and when asked if I wanted to see it, jumped in a truck with one guy.
When I expressed concern for security, he laughed, and we went through a huge
hole in a chain link fence, driving onto the runway. Seems it had been there
for a while, right in plain view, pun intended, and everyone knew about it and
used it. Any civilian could just drive through and onto the runways at
Lindbergh, we did, it was used by all the locals there as a short cut, and I
never felt safe there any more. What a difference from small airports to big
ones, but was there?
Whether farm, suburbs, or city, we all get used to the neighborhood we live
in, and build a trust around with our neighbors. Some we get to know, some just
a wave, some by sound of a car or motorcycle, some by the absence of sound, I
like that one. But large or small, we get to know on a limited basis our
neighbors, and something about them. Works at church too, some we see every
week, some Wednesday nights too, and some only Christmas and Easter. Some it
seems live at the church, who think we must too because that is the only place
we see each other, while others see each other more off campus. And unlike
Santa Paula Airport and others like it with no barriers, we put up barriers, or
facades so people can see how we want to be seen, many times not as we are. If
your hangar door opened every morning for all to see, what would you hide from
them? Or would you? It seems we are more concerned about our neighbor’s
impression of us than God’s. Something we all are guilty of. But how God sees
us should be how we see others, through his eyes in love. And maybe a few
barriers would come down, and maybe a few would be erected where they should
have been. But God sees us as we are, and miracle of miracles, loves us just as
we are. Says so in Romans, “while we were yet sinners, God sent Jesus to die
for us.” Just like the question of what came first, the chicken or the egg, go
to the Bible to find out it was the chicken, God created all the animals first.
And sent Jesus first, to be the first among his loved ones, his own son. So we
aren’t waiting to find God, he is patiently waiting for us to find him. And he
isn’t hiding, but making himself evident everyday to all who seek him. It takes
more faith to be an atheist, because the evidence is there. Just like one
morning watching the planes take off from the runway convinces you of them, time
spent with Jesus proves there is more to him than going to church. It got
personal on the runway, and even more personal looking at the pilots, and
driving around looking inside the hangars. What do you want people to see when
you throw open the doors to your hangar? Your garage? Your life? Is it all a
façade of Jesus stickers, Bible covers, and programs? Or is it deeper, where
you got out of the four walls and saw Jesus in action? Where instead of hearing
a testimony from others, you were making them yourself? Do you have the
courage to not only open the doors to your heart to God, but to go out and
follow his will?
Which is why I stress application of scripture rather than education of
it. We are told to be doers of the word, to get out and live among others
sharing the gospel. Trusting the spirit to guide and provide as needed, and he
does. If the seat of your pants is wearing out faster than the soles of your
shoes, get out and live. See life as God intended it, and experience all he has
for you. Stand on his runway and meet him outside of church, where the real
action is. Maybe even see a side of you that you didn’t know existed, along
with blessings you have been missing. The spirit is calling, are you
listening? What is your answer? Many are called, few are chosen, and God has
called us. He will give us the words when needed as promised, he will protect
us from ourselves as we go. And when standing on the runway, we see more
action. And in the action see more of God. And he is reflected through us.
Just like best sunrises are shared, when Jesus comes into your heart you just
have to tell someone. At the airport, on the runway, or in the café, others are
watching and listening to your words. Do they reflect God or his theories? Do
they show the love of Christ or love of self? Do we dare live without fear of
how God sees us, knowing he loves and forgives us so we can do that for others?
Your hangar door doesn’t have to be open for God to see in.
Airports and churches are just buildings until people become involved.
You are just another voice in the crowd until Jesus becomes involved in your
life. To go boldly where others fear to tread, never knowing Jesus outside of
the church and its teachings. We all can’t live at the airport, but we can live
for Christ. As we go the scripture tells us, preach the word. Not only in
church, but on the way to and from church. Takeoffs and landings are common at
any airport, but different when standing on the runway when they happen. See
Jesus differently when you get out and live him. Maybe that idea of living at
the airport isn’t so foolish at all....or of living for Christ either.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com