Breaking the Holding Pattern

Breaking Your Holding Pattern Graduation exercises were held last week at Texas A&M University. The spirit of joy and excitement as over 5400 (Fifty Four Hundred) graduates crossed the stage in Reed Arena caused me to contemplate about the countless number of others who are in a "Holding Pattern." A few weeks ago, I was traveling on business through JFK (John F. Kennedy) airport in New York City; the plane I was traveling on was placed in a holding pattern. A holding pattern is a predetermined maneuver designed to keep an aircraft within a specified airspace. Holding pattern procedures are designated to absorb any flight delays that may occur along an airway, during terminal arrival and on missed approach.

Breaking Your Holding Pattern
Graduation exercises were held last week at Texas A&M University. The spirit of joy and excitement as over 5400 (Fifty Four Hundred) graduates crossed the stage in Reed Arena caused me to contemplate about the countless number of others who are in a "Holding Pattern." A few weeks ago, I was traveling on business through JFK (John F. Kennedy) airport in New York City; the plane I was traveling on was placed in a holding pattern. A holding pattern is a predetermined maneuver designed to keep an aircraft within a specified airspace. Holding pattern procedures are designated to absorb any flight delays that may occur along an airway, during terminal arrival and on missed approach. Once a holding instruction was issued, the aircraft speed should be adjusted not only to the maximum holding speed, but to the best economy cruise speed. A standard holding pattern is a race track shaped course. It incorporates two straight legs and two 180 degrees right turns. A non standard holding pattern, left turns are used. We circled the city for over 45 minutes and the tension of those traveling was thick. Sitting there, I began to ponder and pray about this problem. It was then the Christ in me started a conversation, "Breaking the Holding Pattern." There are several people reading this article at this moment in a "Holding Pattern." The excitement about life has been eradicated and the spirit of being mundane has your invaded your moment. The loss of insight, enthusiasm and focus are all signs of a Holding Pattern. On that plane, there were things out of my control. Although I did not want to be stuck in the air, I had no choice. You must realize that there are some things completely out of your control. The bible records in Philippians 4:6, 7- "Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus." Your holding pattern could easily be broken if you stop worrying. Do not consume your time giving attention to vicissitudes of life that cause you to become anxious. Anxiety is a poison that penetrates our passion and derails our purpose. There was a man in the Gospel of John, chapter 5 that exemplifies this example. He was laid annually at the pool on one of the five porches in Bethesda waiting on the water to move. There was a legend rehearsed that at the "troubling of the water" the first person in would be healed. In a conversation with Jesus, he recounted his past problems and the prejudice of other people. Immediately Jesus tells the man to "Break His Holding Pattern" by taking up his bed and walk. In life there a three (3) types of people; those who make things happen, those who wait for things to happen and those who ask what happen! Which one are you? Break your holding pattern today. You have had life on pause too long.

Dr. Kris Erskine