Beech Tree News Network

Most of us have heard the expression — “He couldn’t see the wood for the trees.”

Someone said, insights have to be discovered on at a time; perhaps over a period of years.  “Gosh I’ve looked at that all my life; now I’m seeing it for the first time.”

Writer and Author, C.S. Lewis says, “Many times was are not aware when the most important things in life are happening to use.”  This is lack of early insight.  This is “me”.  I’m sure, as I do, many say, “I wish I had asked my parents this or that while I had them”. Or, “I wish I’d asked him more about his time in the Army, or when he worked in South America, or when he danced with movie actress, Elizabeth Taylor II,” as an old school friend of mine once did.  Now he’s gone.

When we lack insight it helps to pay attention to those who have it.  Once years ago I was removing a burned-out water pump from a spring basin.  An older and more insightful friend was helping.  

“Before you get down there you’d better let me tie a rope in the end of this pipe wrench.”  The wrench was big and heavy — the water was cold.  The pump was attached to the pipe end leading up to my house, by a large nut.  

“You are liable to drop the wrench,” he warned.  I told him I wouldn’t drop the wrench, but I went ahead and let him tie off the end of the handle.

I’m glad I did.  I was working in four feet of water.  I’ll bet I dropped that wrench 10 or 12 times!  Each time he would retrieve it with his rope, another insight I gained.

My first Air Force flight instructor was an ex-World War II fighter pilot — he’d been there, done that.  He had insight.  In retrospect at 22 I had not much.

One of the first things he told us was:  “If you have an engine failure on take-off, there are two things you can’t use, the sky above or the runway behind.  Never try to turn back. You won’t make it, land gear-up — straight ahead.  

Fortunately, I never had an engine failure; on a night take-off; a friend of mine did.  

“I did as I was told,” he said.  “I flipped on my landing lights and bellied-in, gear up.  I was not hurt.  My plane only had a bent prop. and I hung my stabilizer (tail) on a fence post and bent the tip of it”. The old instructor taught us well.  We listened well.  We knew they had insight.

Kindest regards…