Never Give Up!

I started my hobby (flying model aircraft) about 2 – 3 years ago. But due to financial reasons and some stupid decisions on my part, I had to stop the hobby and sold all the equipment (the stupid decision of mine). Anyway … a few years later I had an opportunity to restart the hobby. I obviously grabbed hold of the opportunity with both hands and started purchasing all the equipment again; the radio, the starter, the fuel, the plane, etc. I registered with the necessary authorities (yes you need to make yourself legal to fly) and started building my plane. After about 2 or 3 weeks I was finished with my plane and ready to go fly. Now I was fully aware that it wouldn't quite be like riding a bike, but I thought if I got an experienced flyer to take her up and give me a bash at it I would come right relatively quickly.

So off I went to the airfield where our club resides and we fly our planes. Waited for said experienced flyer, but alas there were some construction errors on my part. So the day was over for me and I watched my friend fly around a bit and returned home. I quickly rectified my errors and was back at the airfield the next weekend, just to find out (from experienced flyer) that my plane does not fly well at all. So once again my day was over and I returned home. Now the thoughts were starting to dwell around in my head

"Maybe I shouldn't have started this",

"This is a SIGN I shouldn't be flying", etc.

But I went through the plane and made some changes and was back at the airfield the next weekend. And guess what, my plane flew ok, not perfect but ok. But when we wanted to go up again (for my turn at the controls) my engine started giving problems. Now I was really starting to feel negative. Thinking to myself

"Why did I waste all that money and time"

"I am not meant to enjoy my dreams".

I then started to come up with excuses not to continue working on my plane anymore. I even gave up eventually, and the plane ended up in the garage, full of oily fuel residue I never bothered to clean off and gathering dust. One morning when I opened the garage door and saw my plane lying there, neglected and ignored, I thought to myself

"To hell with it, how can expect to make a success out of life in any aspect of it, if I give up on a dream like this already!".

So that afternoon I filled her up and started working on the engine again. And not long, I got her working and running properly. So I call up my friend and invite him to come to my side of the world (Nigel) and go flying. On the day though the wind was terrible and everyone kept saying I shouldn't try and fly in it, especially if it is my first time in a while. So I gave in and went home. Now I started realising that I was afraid to fly again, afraid I might crash and have to rebuild. My palms would even get sweaty just by thinking about it. But I said to myself

"I am not giving up!"

And the next afternoon after work I went to the airfield again. But the wind was still quite bad and I gave up again. Now I was really starting to get ticked off with myself, and the next afternoon I was back again. And by George the wind was almost just as bad as before. So I decided

"No Way, today I am going up"

And I did. And she took off beautifully and flew straight and true, well except for my jittering fingers, I was petrified. But I was flying, and when my knees starting knocking together I decided it was time to bring her in to land. Now the landing was not one of the best, but nothing broke and I took her back in to the pits (place where you assemble and disassemble your plane). My hands were shaking so much I could barely get the screwdriver in the screws to undo the wing from the fuselage. But I flew, and in not so favourable weather conditions for flying. I succeeded.

Now I think life is a lot like I just experienced. We have a dream and take it on with both hands. Now that dream doesn't quite work out as planned, we have "endless" obstacles to overcome. Then we eventually give up, afraid of failing or even of success. Blame various persons and situations why we can't or never will succeed. But then, someday, something reminds us of that dream, and we start at it again. But inevitably come across some more obstacles, but we realise those obstacles are nothing else but ourselves, our own negativities and fears. And once we realise this, we overcome these obstacles, and man, let me tell you, the feeling of elation and joy when you do succeed, is something only you can experience. And it was well worth all those struggles and obstacles, and you feel alive and ready to take on anything life can throw at you. So don't let obstacles stop you. They will get in your way, slow you down even, but only YOU can actually STOP you.

Never give up. To your success.

A Little Humour Goes a Long Way :)

If you don't laugh at this one, you're not breathing...

 

A fire fighter was working on the engine outside the Station, when he noticed a little girl nearby in a little red wagon with little ladders hung off the sides and a garden hose tightly coiled in the middle.

The girl was wearing a fire fighter's helmet.

The wagon was being pulled by her dog and her cat.

The fire fighter walked over to take a closer look.

'That sure is a nice fire truck,' the fire fighter said with admiration.

'Thanks,' the girl replied. The fire fighter looked a little closer. The girl had tied the wagon to her dog's collar and to the cat's testicles.

'Little partner,' the fire fighter said, 'I don't want to tell you how to run your rig, but if you were to tie that rope around the cat's collar, I think you could go faster. '

The little girl replied thoughtfully, 'You're probably right, but then I wouldn't have a siren.'

Need Washing?

A story I came across today that I thought I should share with everyone.

A little girl had been shopping with her Mum in Woolies. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the Woolies. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing, so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in,

'Mum let's run through the rain,' she said.

'What?' Mum asked.

'Let's run through the rain!' She repeated.

'No, darling, we'll wait until it slows down a bit,' Mum replied.

This young child waited a minute and repeated: 'Mum, let's run through the rain.'

'We'll get soaked if we do,' Mum said.

'No, we won't, Mum. That's not what you said this morning' the young girl said as she tugged at her Mum's arm.

'This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?'

'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything! '

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one left. Mum paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

'Darling, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,' Mum said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They got soaked. They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories. So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

To your success.