I was talking with a commercial airline pilot the other day. He was explaining to me that he is considering changing the type of plane that he captains for Delta Airlines. Apparently, his present aircraft is expected to be retired from the fleet in 2030. Assuming that, he would have to change planes at that time and given the grueling learning process and time involved in learning requirements for a different plane, he would rather do that work now than down the road when he would be five years older.
In my naivety, I told him that I did not understand. I have a driver’s license, and I am presently driving a Lincoln. It is made by Ford, and my license will allow me to drive any Ford product, or any GM product, or Honda, Mercedes, whatever. “Doesn’t a pilot’s license allow you to fly “whatever” plane you choose”?
Then I asked, “If you presently have a license to fly ‘plane A’ what can be so difficult to learn to fly ‘plane B”? That seemed like a fair question to me.
“It is one thing to learn to do something totally new” he explained. “The difficult component when one already knows how to fly ‘plane A’ is to forget or unlearn what you know about that plane to make room for what you need to know to learn about ‘plane B.’ Good pilots will master the plane they fly so it becomes second-nature to them. The details of its operation must become one’s ‘default’ mode, to be successful.”
He then gave me a small example regarding our typical TV watching. “Most of us can go to our own TV, turn it on, and select our channel or streaming service, while barely thinking about what we are doing. When we go to someone else’s home and turn on their TV, that is a different situation. All that we know about our TV may not be the same as their TV.”
“Traveling at 500 miles an hour and 30,000 feet in the air, when something goes wrong, everything you knew about ‘plane A’ may not apply to ‘plane B’ and going to the plane’s owner manual to figure out what to do is not an option. Unlearning everything one knew about ‘plane A’ is required to successfully manage the situation with ‘plane B’ “
Unlearning and Relearning
How does one do that? How does one make room for the new learning that is required? We all have a ‘mindset.’ We all have a ‘default’ setting. Do we try to learn new things but try to keep our present mindset at the same time? Does what we ‘think we know’ become so jelled that it becomes like cement that hardens our brain too quickly? Can an old dog be taught new tricks?
The truth is: Even young dogs can have brains that have jelled too quickly…or they really don’t want to know the truth.
Following is a story of Jesus’s encounter with a young dog.
Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler
Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Jesus also encounters old dogs.
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Conclusion
I give you these two illustrations to suggest: It is not what is in our circle of experience that defines us. It is what we leave out. And what we leave out is often our failure to let the previous mindset go to make room for new and present experiences.
Written by Dr. Frank Leeds III fleeds3@yahoo.com
Other thoughts of Dr Leeds, worthy of meditation, on can be found at the following links:
Spiritual Meditations 