Captain Johnny Ferrier, a pilot for the famed Blue Angles, shreds across the blue sky. Onlookers at the national air show notice smoke billowing from the back of his Navy jet. On the radio, his superior pleads for Johnny to save his life. "Bail out, Johnny, Bail out! You've still got time!" His superior shouts through the receiver. But Johnny doesn't make his move. He knows that if he bails, thousands of innocent bystanders will lose their lives in the crash.

"Bail out!" his superior tries again. Nothing. The stress of the G-force only allows Johnny to answer his superior by blowing three puffs of smoke, just to let him know that he was alright; that he was under control. The crowd watches in amazement as Johnny courageously steers his plane to the only place not occupied by people. A small meadow is where Johnny makes his final statement to the world.

Captain Johnny Ferrier's statement was one of ultimate honor for the people down below him. His courage to take his own life, for the lives of others, might be hard for people to understand; especially in light of Johnny's beautiful young wife and children he left behind. However, the card his wife found tucked away in his wallet the day of his death explains why he gave his own life. It simply read, "God first, others second, and myself third." This is the I'm Third principle Johnny learned as a child. This principle keeps us from thinking only of ourselves.

We must learn to place high value upon others. We call this concept, Honor. Johnny honored the people below, he placed immeasurable value on their lives when he crashed into the vacant meadow.

We might never have to literally die for a friend or family member, but we must practice the example Johnny left us on a daily level.

Christ laid down his life for us. In turn, we identify with him when we sacrifice for others.

© Copyright 2005 Smalley Relationship Center

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