Flying solo

By Mike Klockenbrink

When you hear the term flying solo, what comes to mind? Is it the pilot who’s making a solo flight? Is it the musician who rips off an awesome lick on his guitar during the middle of the show? Or is it the guy you work with who does everything on his own. He doesn’t need your help or want to belong to any team?

It’s a term we use for both good and bad. If you’re flying solo you’re on your own. Does this make you a bad person or a non team player? I think it depends on the situation. Today I want to focus on when it’s right to fly solo.

A newborn baby is 100 percent dependent on someone to take care of them. However, over a period of time this little baby will grow and, with some training and nurturing will be able to walk, talk and feed himself. At some point you need to cut the umbilical cord and stand on your own two feet.

So is it ever okay to fly solo? Yes, I think it’s necessary for our survival. Each time we step out of our comfort zone, the zone just got bigger. Show me how to do something and then let me do it. But let’s be honest, we don’t want to fly with a pilot who’s had just one lesson in a flight simulator. Nor do we want to go under the blade with someone who’s mastered the game of Operation. What we want are people who have been trained and equipped to do the job in front of them.

The reality is that we never really fly solo. There is always someone that we have to rely on. If you’re in sales, you rely on the warehouse to ship your order. If you’re leading worship, you rely on the tech booth to make sure everything is on and running.

As you prepare to go through your pre-flight check list, know that you’ve been trained, equipped and will be supported by your team back at mission control. The only thing left to do is spread your wings and fly as high as you can.

Mike Klockenbrink is chief of staff at Lakeside Church, Folsom, CA. [ www.lakesidechurch.com]