“…Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14, NIV).

He was an elderly man who had suffered much injustice but was doing well with his prostate cancer. We often take a few minutes and talk about the Lord on his visits. Today he shared something he thought was important: “There was this lady on Facebook, talking about Elon Musk, how brilliant and powerful he is. She was calling out for her friends to pray for him. A man of such genius and power could do amazingly wonderful things if he loved the Lord but could do unbelievable damage if he chose to turn away from God.” My patient was asking me to join in that prayer.

People with power and privilege and money and skills (PPMS) can do great things for the world, and they can do great harm if they use those blessings for themselves rather than God. Healthcare professionals achieve this PPMS, though on a microscopic level compared to Elon Musk. We often have to choose which direction we will turn with the blessings given us—for good or for self?

For most Christians who are so blessed, Satan works in a different way than the concern above for Mr. Musk. For most of us, the choice is not between good and evil, but between V1 and V2.

In his book The Lion Speaks, Dr. David Stancil describes the commitment of airplane pilots to speed. When a pilot moves down the runway, he or she reaches a velocity called V1. At this speed, there is no longer any way to put on the brakes without running out of runway, but the plane is not yet fast enough to rise. At V1, the pilot must steadily increase his speed to V2 if the plane is to lift and fly.

Dr. Stancil applies this analogy to Christians on mission for God. Many of us move forward in service to God and reach V1, where we are tempted to comfortably serve until the runway ends. We reach a point of Christian service that is fast enough to settle back satisfied. There, because of age, apathy or life circumstances, we settle into our pace until the runway ends.

However, there is another option. We could realize that God has more for us to do, that we need not settle at a comfortable speed, that perhaps we are called to accelerate, regardless of infirmities, brokenness or circumstance, until we reach God’s pace and lift off into His plan again.

I read this chapter in Dr. Stancil’s book and looked deeply within my own life—a life that has been far too easily satisfied with my level of commitment—a life ready to settle into normal V1 service for Christ until the runway ends. I realized my plan is not good enough, not Godly enough, not Christian enough. Perhaps it is time to renew my commitment and accelerate toward lift off, picking up my cross as I go as long as God is calling me to fly.

“Let the victors when they come,

When the forts of folly fall,

Find my body near the wall”

(written by Matthew Arnold).

Dear Father,

I have no idea what is out there when I lift up into your plan, but please keep me pushing for V2 until the runway ends.

Amen