An Opportunity and Challenge for us all: Gift of Mr. Sullenberger

17 years ago

Mr. Sullenberger was not content with "good enough" - he has sought excellence, throughout his life.

He was a glider pilot, and a fighter pilot. His wife said that the science of the airplane has been his major concern throughout his life.

He operates a business concerned with aircraft safety.

When his supreme test occurred, those extra demands that he had made on himself and training enabled him to bring his aircraft down safely, not only saving the lives of every person aboard, but avoiding all but minor injury ... and, in a heavily populated area, quite possibly at least some, quite possibly substantial, injury, death and destruction on the ground, as well.

Before leaving his craft, he patrolled the aisles twice, to ensure that everyone had escaped.

Mr. Sullenberger's life shows him to be a person with a lot of class.

Among all of the commercial pilots in the U.S./world ... what proportion could have met that challenge and performed as effectively?

How many in our fairly comfortable society have been willing to accept "good enough" as adequate in terms of the ways that we manage our own lives? To have sought great things for ourselves, with minimal consideration for the welfare of others.

Now, as not only our society, but many parts of the world, face many heavy challenges, it is important that many of us take his example as an opportunity, and a challenge, for ourselves - the pursuit of excellence, in the various aspects of our lives.

The reasonably happy future years ... quite possibly even the fate of our countries in anything like a fashion which we've known ... and possibly of the world may depend on how well we perform, in the coming years.

How purposefully and well we pursue excellence, in our own lives.

And expect it of the various parts of our society, as well.

May this New Year bring the fulfillment of some of your worthwhile dreams ... and the envisioning of some new ones.

ole joyful

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Comments (12)

anneliese_32
17 years ago
Thanks, ole joyful. Wished I could say it so well. We all need to strife to do better in whatever we do.
yayagal
17 years ago
And he's been invited to the Inauguration and has accepted. What an honor!
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vannie
17 years ago
Wonderfully said, joyful.
linda_in_iowa
17 years ago
I joined his fan club on Facebook.
User
17 years ago
Thank you for reminding us ole joyful. It needed to be said, and you've done so admirably.
sjerin
17 years ago
Beautiful, OJ. Thank you.

Erin
joyfulguy
Original Author
17 years ago
As many of you know, I was involved in a chargeable accident something over a year ago, and, as I was over 70, our Ministry of Transportation sent me an "invitation" to take a vision, written and driving test to verify my current capability to drive safely, so as not to present danger to myself and others when I took a vehicle out on the road.

The (small) "Driver's Handbook" is available for $14.95 (plus tax) ... but ole (frugal) joyful was able to borrow a copy from the library, at no cost (or did he return it late, a time or two, subjecting himself to a minor fine?).

The vision test was O.K. for general driving - but not for the permit to drive a larger straight truck: I can have it reinstated within a year, if I can pass the vision test and I have had cataract surgery on both eyes, since).

I passed the written test.

On the first driving test, I drove too slowly and cut a turn (which was too newly opened for the lanes to have been marked) too tightly where two lanes were turning together ... the instructor jerked the steering wheel. I didn't bother telling him that I was watching the other turning car and was not near it... as I knew that my goose was cooked.

Next time, I ran a yellow light ... and hit a snowbank while turning.

Third time, last spring ... I passed. The driving instructor, a member of our church, said that I'd be good for five years now, would I ... not quite - just till Jan. 30, next week: big birthday, which requires seniors to jump through hoops.

I have to take a defensive driving training session for seniors and a written test, plus a driving test for a few, as selected by the instructor, I hear. I've been granted an extension of my permit (arrived today) ... as my assigned test date isn't to be until early April.

While I used to be somewhat watchful for my own errors on the road, I've become much more sensitive to that issue with regard to my own driving ...

... and with regard to the practices of others, as well.

Many of us haven't made a habit of brushing up on our awareness of the rules of the road from time to time (regularly??) ... and chastised ourselves sufficiently when we transgress.

In less memorable circumstances than that faced by Mr. Sullenberger the other day ... we face potentially lif-threatening situations every day ... on a smaller scale.

How well have we taken the challenge to seek for excellence in the way that we fulfill that part of our responsibilities to ourselves, our families, the community and the world?

And, if we honour Him/Her - to God?

Would we be happy to ride on an aircraft if we knew that the flight crew (if there were no regulations) were as lackadaisical about keeping their skills updated and sharp as we are with regard to our care in the operation of some of the routines of our lives?

How concerned are we to pursue excellence ... in the various seemingly-routine aspects of our daily living?

ole joyful
joyfulguy
Original Author
17 years ago
I was hoping that this thread would encourage some discussion and debate about the needs for all of us to develop a life based on demanding excellent performance of ourselves in our daily activities and in our relationships with others ... and the world.

Not just in the high-profile situations that Mr. Sullenberger faced, but in the routines of daily life.

ole joyful
liz
17 years ago
lets not forget that while "Sully" did a wonderful job of putting that airplane down...it was THE Flight Attendants who got those people out of that sinking plane in less then 90 seconds...got them in the rafts, and stopped people from opening the back doors which would have sank them in a heartbeat...When you're sitting by the Window Exits, be prepared and read the Safety Information Card cause the persons by the Window Exits are gonna be the ones responsible for opening those exits and leading people to safety...Those passengers are heros too for opening those exits and having people stand on the wings until being picked up...It was a perfect example of experienced crew members ready for an emergency and on top of their game!
joyfulguy
Original Author
17 years ago
Hi Liz,

An example of my original point, it seems to me:

while the person doing the high profile, outstanding thing, gets the publicity, it's important for all of us to not be content with "good enough" in the way that we operate, but to seek excellence in all that we do ... including the seemingly routine stuff.

Who knows when that extra skills-training and effort on our part may be called upon ...

... in a life or death situation??

As I mentioned, while operating a vehicle on the highway ...

... anyone want to discuss the distractions, whether using a cell phone, painting fingernails, etc??

I'm interested to hear your views, folks.

ole joyful
susanjf_gw
17 years ago
has anyone recieved the email with HIS hands reaching down beneath the plane that captain sullenburger landed on the water?
joyfulguy
Original Author
17 years ago
Perhaps some didn't see this, earlier.

Or ... even if we did ... perhaps thinking about it again will encourage us to raise our sights somewhat when it comes to setting standards of behaviour that we expect of ourselves as we travel this road of life.

None of us knows when those standards of excellence that we've set for ourselves earlier and made an earnest attempt to fulfill may avert great suffering or tragedy ... whether for only one or two persons ... or a much larger number, some time in the future.

Mr. Sullenberger, with his crew, gave us a worthy ... a shining ... example of having done so.

ole joyful

An Opportunity and Challenge for us all: Gift of Mr. Sullenberger

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