Category: Adapting to Change

Adapting To Change

Holding Pattern

Have you ever been cruising along the paths of life and suddenly, everything just STOPS? I know COVID is a good example, but let’s put this distraction aside for a moment and consider many other matters that can catapult our lives into a “HOLDING PATTERN.”

As this relates to air travel, a HOLDING Pattern is a route followed by an aircraft above or near an airport while it “WAITS” to land. The source may be due to bad weather which causes reduced visibility, a saturation of air traffic during peak travel times, or runway closures.

Passengers and crew members are imprisoned above the earth until the air traffic controllers release the jetliner for the landing approach. A scenario such as this could take hours and the end result would usually cause missed flights or extensive delays. Sometimes the captain has to abandon the pattern and deviate to another city because fuel reserves are running low.

When faced with such an occurrence onboard a flight, passengers become angry, impatient, irritable, confrontational, resentful and the list goes on! Eventually, your flight arrives at “A” destination. Bear in mind that I said “A” destination, not your destination. Destiny is not always about OUR choosing!

HOLDING in itself is not an inconvenience for the most part. Mirriam Webster defines HOLDING PATTERN as, “a state of WAITING or SUSPENDED activity.”

The pilgrimage through existence consists of our tireless attempts to attain destiny our own way. Even our greatest efforts encounter delayed progress that induce anger, impatience, and resentment. When we are in the HOLDING state, we would be greatly benefited, if we would allow the development of what we need to align with God’s timing.

It would appear that sometimes, dreams are SUSPENDED by outside influences and we dare not look inside to recognize that WAITING expectantly is incorporated in the process of time. Being in a HOLDING PATTERN permits us to gain perspective, reveal our capabilities, redirect our lives or in some cases, even save our lives.

Even when intentions are not what we have planned, examine the great possibilities when JOURNEY lands us in strange and foreign places. The adaptation in the experience will reap great rewards.

Proverbs 16:9, “We can make our plans, but God determines our steps.” (NLT)

Adapting To Change

Jet Stream

If you are a weather groupie like me, you are extremely fascinated by changes in weather patterns and how they cause us to tailor our everyday lives.

The phenomenon responsible for these changes is referred to as the “JET STREAM.”

Let’s define this phrase before we move on. Simply put, Jet Streams are bands of strong wind that generally blow from opposite directions all across the earth. They impact weather, air travel and many other things that take place in our atmosphere.

Aviators must calculate flight plans that require adjusting fuel, airspeed and altitude regulated by the intensity and position of the Jet Stream. These calculations will often result in early/late arrival to the intended destination, avoidance of severe turbulence, alternate routes, or in some instances, a flight diversion. (landing in an unintended destination)

When we are faced with Jet streams of life, it is imperative to redesign our course. One thing is certain, Jet streams will always be with us-around the globe and in our souls!

Think about how you will adapt when you encounter strong winds of life blowing from one day to the next day or even from one minute to the next minute.

Jesus told His disciples of the Jet Streams they would encounter in the world. He charted their paths by giving them tools to help them adapt-truth, joy and peace. These would help them navigate successfully around the issues that challenged them.

In the last verse of John 16:33 Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Take one day at a time, to determine in prayer the adjustments you need to construct, to continue on this journey.

Jet streams of life will propel us or slow us down or send us in another direction altogether. We have the capability given to us by faith in God which allows the fine tuning of our destination!