God once again showed up and blessed me with an opportunity to get up in the sky. He simply amazes me at this goodness, especially when it is so undeserving.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV
Last week, we just finished having our annual fly-in at work called Beech Party. I believe this year we had around 750 people with 140-145 planes that flew in. It is always an exciting time at work. Everyone is just happy to be there and the sounds of the planes coming in and out is music to my ears. The past 2 years at Beech Party, I have been fortunate to have gotten opportunities to go up fly. In 2021, it was in the Starship. In 2022, it was in Parish Twin Beech. The thought had crossed my mind that just maybe this year I may get an opportunity to go up in the star of the museum, the Staggerwing. Rides in a Staggerwing are highly sought after and I thought to myself, if I end up having to ride in the back seat, can I do that and keep the contents of my stomach, well inside my stomach. You see, I am not a good car rider. Just ask my poor husband. If I am a passenger, especially if it is in the back seat, I need air. Fresh air, windows cracked and I do not care how cold it may be outside. I get a little nauseated to say the least. I just want to take a minute to thank my dad for that. He used to love to take the scenic route to and from our destinations. Thirty minutes road trips would take an hour and thirty minutes to get from point A to point B. By the time we would arrive my sister and I would be begging to get out on solid ground. I love you dad, but I know you will chuckle if you are reading this because it is the truth!! So anyways, I didn’t mean to get off on that rabbit trail, but I had done told myself that if I have to say no to riding in the back, I will just have to get over it. The problem was I wasn’t sure I could say no to an opportunity like that.
At Beech Party there is a dinner the three nights of the event. The past two years, I have chosen to just leave after my work shift and not join in with the meals. I have a tendency to shy away from big crowded areas. Even though I talk to the guests multiple times that week, I still didn’t feel like I knew anyone well enough to sit down at a table and eat with them. In my mind, I figured that they would want someone they could talk planes or aviation with and after all I just work in the gift shop. This year our Friday night dinner was our 50th Anniversary celebration and I had heard that one of our volunteers was getting an award. Les Marsh is a huge asset to the museum, a great guy who is so giving with his time and knowledge to make BHM a better place. With the encouragement from my co-workers, I decided that Daryl and I would attend dinner on Friday night. We arrived at the dinner and my co-worker , Sherry and her husband, had offered to sit with us but she had family attending the meal. I told her we would be fine and she needed to go sit with her family. On the inside, I was thinking who in the world will end up at the table with us? It made me think of a scene from a movie when the young kid is sitting at a lunch table, and no one ever sits with them. I had already played it out, just me and Daryl at this big, round table in a sea of people. But two gentlemen, a father and son, ended up sitting with us. When I saw their name tags, I knew these two were a valuable part of the museum. They were life time members Dick and Scott Hansen. They both have been involved with the museum for many years. We had some conversation and I told them a little bit about how I ended up working at BHM. Scott asked me if I had ever been up in a Staggerwing and I said no. He then looked at my husband and me and said, “Would you want to go up in one?” Of course my answer was yes! I told Scott he could come find me in the gift shop on Saturday whenever he was ready to go. I arrived to work on Saturday and was trying to contain my excitement. I noticed the wind had picked up quite a bit, so I was starting to lose hope that it may happen. Daryl showed up around 3pm and Scott came and said it was just too windy to try then. He would try to make a final decision around 5 or so. Daryl had to leave to go home and attend to other plans. He had told me to stay and if I get the chance to go up, do it. I waited and a little after 5pm, Scott came into the gift shop. He said, “Do you want to go?” I replied, “Really? Yeah, I want to go!” I was so excited to hear the words, “Let’s go!”
Not only did I get to go up in a beautiful, orange Staggerwing with a skilled, experienced pilot but we also did a formation flight with another Staggerwing. It was amazing. I have a whole new level of respect for those who fly in formation. What skill, precision, and focus it takes! And guess where I got to ride because it was just me and the pilot, in the front seat! Thank you God for coordinating that ride, down to every detail . In my mind none of that was coincidental. He is so loving and so kind to us all. If I am being honest, I know I can be a real jerk to my heavenly Father at times. Especially when things are not going as I want them to go. But he looks past the ugly part of me, and says here you go child. I love you. I see you. I care about you. Those dreams tucked away in your heart, who do you think put them there? I did.
What a mighty God we serve. The little mundane moments in our lives can hold just as much of his love and power than the big miracles he performs. We just have to be intentionally aware and have open hearts and minds to receive them. They are there. Look for them. Grab hold of them! Don’t let the drops of love that he showers us with daily go unnoticed.
He loves you. Don’t forget it!
Keep moving forward,
Hayley Williams
Unpolished & Imperfect 