The Fear of Flying by Penny Cooke

The Fear of Flying

by Penny Cooke

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”

(Joshua 1:9, ESV).

Are you afraid to fly? Those massive planes seem more likely to fall right out of the sky than soar. Some people fear turbulence and crashing. Others dread the hassle of traveling—delays, cancellations, crowds. Needless to mention the intimidation of security.

We could find numerous reasons not to fly, but there are also numerous reasons to fly. The thrill of new places, people, and adventures. Visiting loved ones. Even looking down at the world from new heights renders an incredible experience.

During a recent layover, I considered how writing, like flying, can also prove frightening and stressful. Are we up for the hassle, delays, and waiting? Can we endure the turbulence of having our words edited, being rerouted by rewrites, or having our words taken from us by . . . security?

In addition, the publishing market has grown more crowded than the Atlanta airport. We can feel like a pebble of sand on Australia’s Ninety Mile Beach.

Worse yet, what if my words fall flat? What if my writing crashes? What if my submission gets . . . cancelled?

God has promised to be with us, so we have the best writing partner ever. Sure, we may feel cancelled by rejections at times, but what if that puts us on a better flight? Maybe God has something better in his itinerary. We just might get an upgrade.

Will we miss the thrill of the final destination because of fear or the hassle of getting there? What new heights might we miss?

Will we refuse to fly because we’re afraid to fall out of the sky of authors? What will we, and others, miss if we don’t go the distance?

Perhaps too many of us pose the question, “What if I fall?” to which Australian poet, Erin Hanson, answered, “Oh but my darling, what if you fly?”

Well, I should depart to make today’s lines. I don’t want to miss my flight.

Oh Lord, help me not to fear flying with my writing. With you as my pilot, I cannot fall.