I was flying home this weekend from leading a leadership summit in Pennsylvania. My last flight of the day was all that was ahead of me from being home. I had already gotten up at 3AM est for a two hour drive down the mountain to catch my early morning flight from Harrisburg to Dallas.
While that drive was tough enough in the fog and drizzling rain, the weather in Dallas would pose a very different challenge.
We were on the runway. The pilot stated we were number two for takeoff. We set far too long being number two for takeoff.
Some weather had moved in quickly and evidently alerts were coming through faster than we could take off. We sat for about ten minutes on the runway just waiting.
The pilot came on the intercom, explained the weather concern, but said there was a small break in the storm, and that we would try to ease through it. I heard the word “try”. What did he mean by that? It’s not like we could put on our emergency flashers and pull over to “wait it out”.
We were either going to make it through the storm or not!
Well, we took off and the first ten minutes were rough. I have been through worse, but the turbulence, and frequent climb/fall feeling was enough to challenge even the most diehard thrill seekers.
The conversations among passengers stopped. There was no one looking at their phones. People were bracing, holding on, and “expressing” themselves every time that small plane would drop abruptly.
While all this turbulence was going on, the flight attendant, strapped in just behind me, continued to read off her required announcements. She never hesitated. She just kept reading. When she got to the end and wished us all a pleasant flight and to please think of American on our next trip, I couldn’t help but smile.
After ten minutes, we were out of the storm and almost home.
The irony, I had just spoken to a group the day before about embracing the uncomfortable. I had challenged them about not running from the hard things. You see, it’s in the hard things that we push ourselves, grow in faith, and ultimately reach our potential.
I would be much more comfortable not taking early morning flights or doing weekend seminars that require flying in difficult weather conditions, but my comfort would not allow me to impact people. My comfort won’t change lives. My comfort won’t create a multiplying effect of changing people who will go and impact others!
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Are you chasing comfort when you should be seeking challenging?
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Are you resting in the “known” when you should be embracing the uncertain?
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Are you focusing on your position when you need to be pursuing your potential?
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Are you thinking “you” when you need to be thinking what you can be doing for others?
I had a gentleman come up to me at the end of the conference this weekend and tell me, “I thought I would hate this day. I wanted to stay home. However, it was the best. I got so much out of it. Thank you.”
He left the comfort of a Saturday at home and was challenged. I’d like to think he will be different because of it!
Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus told his disciples, “I anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
I don’t see a lot of “comfortable in that pursuit, but I see a lot of impact and joy!
Where do you need to step out into the turbulence of life and stop being comfortable?
Doug equips leaders to make organizations better. He has two leadership books available on all online platforms. Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build an authentic team, contact Doug at doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.
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