Every few years I go to the clinic and get them to clean out my right ear so I can hear better and it doesn’t cause excruciating pain when I’m flying.

The first time I did it, the nurse administers this pleasant flow of warm water that’s helplessly draining into the container I’m holding. Then it gets through the first layer of wax goes really deep, really fast, really forcefully. This is dangerous. Do I tell her to stop? She must know what she’s doing. But this is ridiculous! She’s literally drilling into the middle of my brain. I could die right here in the chair. Something must be going wrong.

And then it’s over, and I’m fine. And I can hear and I can fly. Huh.

A few years ago we went for marriage counselling so I could listen to Heather better and not cause excruciating pain by flying off on my ideas without her.

In the first session, the counsellor is asking pleasant questions that we answer harmlessly, as she gets to know us. Then she gets Heather to open up about our time before getting married and it gets really deep, really fast, really painfully. This is dangerous. Do I tell her to stop? She must know what she’s doing. But this is ridiculous! She’s literally dismantling the foundation of our whole marriage. We could be done right here in the counselling office. Something must be going wrong.

And then it’s over, and we’re fine. And I can hear her and we can fly together. Huh.

Two weeks ago on my vacation I was talking to God about what was stressing me out. I wanted to hear his voice and fly in the Spirit with him.

At first, he was answering my questions with other questions that were somewhat humorous and nothing was threatening. Then he started showing me big picture view of my life and it got really deep, really fast, really personally. This is dangerous. Do I let him keep going? He must know what he’s talking about. But this is ridiculous! He’s stripping away my very identity, not just what I do but who I am. I could be devastated beyond repair while on my vacation. I must be hearing him wrong.

And then it’s over, and I’m fine. And I can hear Him better and I’m ready to fly. Huh.