Have you ever seen pictures or video of old, rusty, hollowed out WW2 airplanes found years after the war was over? It’s not too common, but it’s not an unheard of thing to find one these days, 80 years later, alone and forgotten under a canopy of jungle greenery.
What’s rarer still, but again, not unheard of, is the airplane that is found having crashed many decades ago being restored and flown again. Some, like the Lockheed P-38 Lightning that was found in Greenland under 350 feet of snow. It was part of the “Lost Squadron” of 6 fighter planes and a bomber or two that had to make an emergency landing during a blizzard.
This particular fighter airplane was recovered and restored to flight worthiness with the new name “Glacier Girl.”
Another fantastic example was a German Focke-Wulf fw190A that had crashed in a forest near Leningrad, Russia. It was dug out of the forest in 1991 and later sold to some Americans who restored it and flew it!
So what’s the point of all this history stuff? Why am I writing about it?
Today, as I was praying before doing some study, it came to me that I feel a lot like one of those crashed fighter planes. And if history proves true, I’m not the only one who feels it.
I don’t know if it was my pride or objective truth speaking, but there used to be a day when I was a little less intimidated of other Christians, particularly those mighty preachers I gravitated towards as a younger pastor. I knew I wasn’t on their level, but I sure did feel a lot more confident of my spirituality back then. I knew I wasn’t the best I could be, but I felt like I was in the best shape I was capable of being at that time.
Maybe I was. Maybe I wasn’t. Maybe I had a big head. Maybe it was the hair I used to have.
Regardless, I was a fighter, more so than I am now. Then again, maybe I was fighting different battles and don’t need to fly around in aerial mortal combat anymore. All I know is that I feel I am capable of more than I am doing. And these days I’m not intimidated by my would-be peers; I’m just disgusted with myself.
But there is an encouraging part to this story! You see, when those antique planes from the 1940s were recovered and flown again, their need was long gone. Even if there had been a conflict to which they could have been committed, their capabilities and armament would have been woefully obsolete.
However, much to the contrary can be said of folk like me! Even if I had been lost amidst the jungle branches and rusted nearly beyond recognition, the conflict still rages, the enemy is still the same, and the weapons of war have never changed! It’s not even necessary for me to be “repurposed,” for God’s plan for my life has not changed!
Even my “crash-landing” in the Forgotten Forest was part of His overall strategy. What the Enemy thought was an eliminated weapon; God will restore and refurbish for future victory in enemy territory.
So, let’s start knocking of this rust, shall we?
The Recovering Legalist 
I kind of feel this. I am still relatively young, almost 42, and I am finally (Lord willing) about to finish my M.Div. I have colleagues already pushing me toward a doctorate so that we can work full-time together at the university.
At the same time, this month, due to some behind-the-scenes drama and church politics with a “healthy” dose of lack of proper communication, I was “asked” to step down as youth pastor over the next few months. I was asked if I am willing to remain as an elder, so it is not an earth-shattering, complete loss of trust. But knowing there was unfairness toward me (one of the other elders considered leaving over this, as it was a 2-week process amongst the other elders, and apparently some concerns were raised months ago without anyone telling me or the other elders until 2 weeks ago [or, in my case, Saturday at the meeting]), there is still hurt, and it came during a season of questioning my fitness for ministry. God’s goodness is shining through, though. I have been the first to help youth families and a few others not be too angry and not cause more drama. (Apparently, as many as 14 families would have left if I did. I found this out from direct confessions and my fellow elder who has talked with people about me, without discussing my stepping down, also trying not to stir the pot but wanting to co firm his feelings that I am a decent pastor.)
A further prayer request, showing my doubts and questions over the past year were preparing me for this: I was asked to help spearhead a new “Theology Mentor Program” in which seminarians mentor undergraduate ministry/theology students. I have been doing that for the better part of 4 years, including these last 2 as a seminarian, so it just makes sense, I guess. I might also be pursuing college/20-something ministry in my community, especially seeing as I keep getting requests to speak at events and to groups. (Apparently, my understanding of apologetics including a necessary leading to the gospel has been relatively rare for most people. THAT is weird to me.)
I am praying for you, brother, and your co-workers!
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Oh, and I just watched some videos about some of those planes pointing toward why YEC is not unreasonable (planes buried in snow and ice deeper than expected based on long-timeframe understandings.) So, this was a timely post for those reasons, too.
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