Peaceful Navigation

The 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s Readings: [Click here]

In 1969, when the Concorde began to fly between the United States and Europe, it was the focus of a lot of media attention. It traveled at Mach 2—twice the speed of sound or about 1,350 miles per hour—so you could cross the Atlantic in less than four hours. No one had even flown a commercial plane that fast before.

Many prominent media people were invited to fly on the first few maiden flights. These VIPs were given a tour of the cockpit and a brief lecture about the Concorde.

One reporter was very surprised to learn that no one actually kept the plane on course. Because of its phenomenal speed and the slowness of human reaction time, the course was actually maintained by two computers. The first computer took a course reading every few seconds and, if the airplane had veered off course, it instantaneously fed this information to the second, which would make the needed correction and confirm the new course. Every time the computer made a course adjustment, it would beep to alert the captain.

As the reporter watched the system in action, he realized that the computer was beeping almost continuously. He turned to the tour guide and commented about this. He asked what percentage of the time the plane was off course. The crew member smiled and said, “About 99% of the time, sir.”

So this VIP reporter said with some awe in his voice, “And we’re going to land in Paris at 9:03 PM?” “Yes, sir,” the crewman replied. “Plus or minus 60 seconds.”

This story certainly raises an interesting thought. Maybe the problem of keeping the Concorde on course wouldn’t just be a problem related to slow human reaction time. Maybe part of the problem would be related to what we might call human friction—things that interfere with the smooth operation of life… things like pride and defensiveness and worry.

Imagine two human beings trying to steer the plane. Picture one telling the other every few seconds that his steering was off. How long do you think it would take before the other one would say, “No, I’m not!” and just be pig-headed about staying the course—the wrong course! You’d miss Paris by many miles. You might even miss Europe entirely! But even more importantly, a human being, being wrong 99% of the time, might lose heart.

St. Paul writes today: Brothers and sisters, have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:6-7).

Have no anxiety? Don’t worry? God’s going to take care of it?

Yep. That’s what he says.

How might we get that to happen?

Maybe we could focus ourselves the same way that the Concorde was focused on its destination and navigate a course in just this same way.

If we stopped demanding of ourselves that we be on course all the time, we might actually start looking at our mistakes differently and give them close, quick attention and a frictionless response. Admitting our shortcomings won’t prevent us from reaching our dreams nearly as much as wanting to be right all the time will!

A few weeks ago, we heard the gospel in which Jesus said: If your brother sins, go and correct him in private. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother (Mt 18:15). Admittedly, it’s not always easy to go and tell somebody that they’re sinning without sounding judgmental or getting them mad… but those who have the courage to tell us when we’re messing up are actually doing us a huge favor. They’re like navigators for us—like that first computer that alerts us when we’re off course. Our response shouldn’t be to take umbrage or get upset or defensive, but to say Thank You! And then one quick “beep!” and get ourselves back on course without further thought or fretting.

If we did this, we wouldn’t be so anxious about things. Yes, we’d have to give up our moment-to-moment attachments to being right, being in control, second-guessing people’s reactions… and to let go of pride, approval, recognition or sometimes even success. But as St. Paul reminds us, this will lead to God’s peace—the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. Don’t try to figure it out. Just embrace the mystery of it on faith.

Our tools, according to this profound text, are prayer and petition, thanksgiving and making our requests known to God.

Put it in your own words, but basically you must pray, “Lord, put me on course. Keep my family and friends on course—and strangers and enemies, too.” When things go right, you add, “Thank you, Lord, for guiding me so well.”

In time, the faithful follower of Jesus Christ will learn to discern the course corrections relayed by God and readjust as necessary. As the saints tell us, it’s amazing how the Lord will guide us so smoothly and certainly to our destination.