I find the story of the Wright brothers and their father Bishop Wright fascinating.

Everyone has heard the famous quote, “If God wanted us to fly He would have given us wings.”  Not many people know that it was the Wright brother’s father, Bishop Wright, who uttered those words of opposition to his son’s quest for flight.  As a father of two sons and a daughter myself, I can totally relate to Bishop Wright’s apprehension.  It is easy for us almost a century later, having seen the development of aviation, to make light of the Bishop.  But, put yourself in his shoes.

The Wright brothers are famous for the first “successful” flight!  Up to that time dozens of would be aviators killed themselves flying their homebuilt “flying machines”!  I repeat, up to that time no one had successfully flown an airplane! I can’t blame Bishop Wright for opposing his son’s attempts at flying.  He didn’t want to see his kids get killed! I would have used the fear of God or anything else to keep my children safe.  Wouldn’t you?  I probably would have threatened to kick them out of the church (another theological power move).

Ironically, I interpret Bishop Wright’s stern warning as a prophecy. Many times the prophet brings a warning, thinking he knows God’s intention, but God knows otherwise.  Let’s look at the Bishop’s words.  “If God wanted us to fly he would have given us wings.”  So what did the Wright brothers do different?  They developed the first successful airplane wing.  Their first airplane was a simple glider built upon the concept of what we today call an “airfoil”.  Divine inspiration?  Maybe.  Personally I lean towards the divine, especially when confirmed with a prophecy.  It makes sense to me.

So, if God wants us to fly he would give us wings and so he did.  Yes, aviation has been used for both good and evil upon this earth but leave it up to mankind to make something good into something evil. Still there is something about flying – and I don’t mean passenger flying on a Commercial airline (bus).  There is something about piloting your ship off of the earth and into the sky to experience the thrill of flight – flying on divine wings, the wings God had in mind, so that you can look down upon creation, the earth below, and see everything with new eyes.

If you don’t know how to fly, you can learn.  If you already know how to fly I would encourage you to teach others how to fly.  I believe God wanted to share flight with us.  And whatever God wants to share with us we need to share with others.  It is the Divine way.

Dave Hill
Lipscomb, TX