An earth-tone pilot's shirt
It’s weathered, but ready to go.
AIM Air pilot, Jerry packed coffee in a thermos for all of us in the morning. 6:30am check-in on a Saturday morning for a 7am take-off. We’re flying to northern Kenya for the graduation of adult literacy learners among nomadic pastoralists.
Jerry knows a little coffee on an early morning flight will help the mood. He’s even got some cinnamon rolls as an in-flight snack. Providing those is beyond the call of duty but he and his team seem happy to do so.
The flight should be a good one. The weather’s nice and it should be smooth sailing. We’re flying up for a celebration, and who doesn’t love going up for those!
There are easy days like this. It’s all smiles. People are in a good mood. They have a coffee and a snack in each hand and the skies ahead are clear.
But the pilots have also had tough trips as well.
There are times they’ve been the link between life and death. They’ve flown supplies into countries navigating complex emergencies. They’ve flown out the injured to safety and even some who’ve flown their last on God’s green earth. They’ve repatriated those who have fallen, and carried the bereaved. They’ve been in their share of tense moments. They weigh the cargo as they do the risks. It’s just part of the course.
Jerry’s captain’s shirt isn’t white anymore. It carries permanent earth tones; the dirt of numerous airstrips. Countless take-offs and landings, loading and offloading dusty cargo. Eventually, it seeps in after all the washes. The shirt isn’t the way it was when it first came out of the package. It’s seen too many things to stay that way.
The pilots too are not as they were when they graduated from aviation school, bright-eyes and bushy-tailed. They’ve experienced things. And those things change you. It slowly seeps in until you are, in some ways, changed.
But, even though the shirt is not as it was out of the package, it’s still good to use. It’s still clean and ready to go.
You’ve seen a few things in your life. You’ve been through the wringer a few times. You’re not the same as you were when you started this journey. But ‘changed’ doesn’t mean you’re of no use anymore. You’re not dirty. You’ve just absorbed the colours of the experiences you’ve had. We don’t toss a perfectly good shirt just because it’s taken on a different tinge over the years. It’s still got plenty of life left.
Like some pilot’s shirts I know.
Read more about AIM Air.
Thank you for your dedication to serving those who serve. While we may become tired from our efforts, we are never truly exhausted because our passion and commitment to helping others keeps us going. Together, we can make a positive impact and support those who selflessly give their time and energy to serving the Lord
I have fond memories of flying in the little Cesna's, very grateful for the pilots that flew them and the ministry of their families. Beautifully written Tohru and the photo's have the perfect light too!