Lay of the Land

A strange thing happens when you become airborne! It is a bewildering thing the first few times, but is a constant feature of flying and the behaviours that support.

The land becomes flat and look nothing like you know it to look. From the ground we use very frequently use landmarks that are higher up or taller than we are to get around - but standing height largely becomes invisible to the one flying above it.

The effect of this flattening of the landscape is that those who fly have to reply on other signs to guide them. The things that we once took for granted cease to be of value when navigating from place to place. Buildings tall and short become mere rectangles, hills and fields become as one.

In prayer too we are guided by familiar landmarks. We often rely on the landmark of our own emotion to guide us into or out of prayer, and for some of the 'flight' that is good. Those landmarks are often 'those old familiar things' - books, images, words, music. The thing about prayer is that at its best we soar in the heights, and at that point we notice that our familiar landmarks are superceded by a wider angle or a wholly new perspective. The learning process that pilots of all breeds have to pass through is a useful lesson for all spiritual people - the lesson that states simply but powerfully that the lay of the land always changes when we take to the air, that to read new signs and more importantly to trust in the forces of God is the new way to proceed. God will teach us about trusting in Him more and in our old landmarks less.