By Carolyn Dickman
A U.S. Navy jet pilot flew several missions over Vietnam during the war. Every mission must have been trying, but on one of those missions his plane was shot down. He parachuted out and survived. Years later he went on the speakers’ circuit and shared what he had learned while in the service of his country. After one of his talks a man came up to him and said, “I know you. I know you because I packed your parachute.”Parachutes Are Metaphors for the Things that Save Us
Parachutes can save your life. Not just the physical parachutes that people use to jump out of planes, but the emotional parachutes that get us through our lives too.In the bowels of a Navy ship that young rigger carefully placed each line correctly, made each fold in the canopy with care, packaged a survival tool. He did this time and time again. That was his job. He saved lives with his work.
The two men visited for a time but the pilot spent the rest of his life contemplating that ‘perhaps’ chance meeting and why it was ‘meant’ to occur. His presentations have changed a bit. He now asks his audience, “Who packs your parachute?” That’s a good thing to contemplate. Who inspires you to get through the difficult days? Who gives you the strength you need during tough times?
Using Parachutes to Save Lives
When Charles Plumb swooped down in his correctly packed parachute, he needed lots of other parachutes. He needed an emotional parachute. He needed a spiritual one. He evidently had all the chutes he needed – after all, he survived. When he was a young child someone must have given him the parachute of prayer. Someone taught him the importance of character. Someone gave him good examples of inner strength. They inspired the parachutes that he would need to make it through one of the most trying ordeals of his life. They even inspired him to share his experiences with others. They inspired him to give emotional and spiritual parachutes to other people.Who Packs Your Parachute?
My dad knelt down beside me on the edge of the Badlands in South Dakota when I was ten. I can still hear him say, “Sis, your forefathers WALKED across that.” All I could see was one flat-topped mountain after another. There was no path…how did they survive? I can still sense the dust and the hot wind that blew that day. Forever implanted was the respect and pride I carry to this day for those pioneers that built our great country. My dad packed lots of parachutes for me.Inspiration Makes Inspiration
My youngest daughter is living with us for the time being as she waits for acceptance in an internship assignment. This is the first time in about five years that we’ve had a “live-in” daughter. How much I have already forgotten came back to me in a comment she made when I called to say I’d be late. “Hurry home, Mom.” How long had it been that anyone had asked me to hurry home? She packed my parachute and I carry it with me until a time that I need to be reminded that I matter to someone. Inspiration makes more inspiration.Another daughter left for work earlier than I, when she arrived she called me to tell me to be careful. The roads were icy.
She packed my parachute.
I work with the nicest people you can find. Each one of them has unique, special qualities that I admire. They pack my parachute each day.
Packing Parachutes to Inspire Other People
I am so fortunate to talk with folks going through the program. It gives me many occasions to meet people who provoke the kinds of thoughts that make me grateful for the gifts I have and strong enough to shoulder the burdens I have. I learn so much from them and I hope once in awhile I can pack their parachute. This week one young man was grieving over the loss of his mom. He told me, “She always had my back.” I told him, “She still does.” That’s the kind of support we need.Who packs your parachute? Tell them how much you appreciate their careful packing. We all need to know that the good things we do influence change in the world.
Carolyn
P.S. My friend Lisa tells me that her son, Gage, packs her parachute… “He even helps push me out of the plane sometimes! The funny thing is, he doesn’t even know this. I think I will let him know.”
