Time to Buzz the Tower

  When I was a teenager one of my favorite movies was Top Gun. I was 15 when it came out back in 1986. I remember sitting about four rows from the screen and watching this epic movie playing before my eyes. I was with some friends and family I think. The movie was awesome. It was one of the best movies of its time and extremely popular. We went and saw it on opening weekend and I don't think we planned things too well, hence my neck wrenched seat. Regardless of how uncomfortable I was in my seat, I remember the excitement of the ride I embarked while the movie was shown. Back then I had no idea why I was so drawn to this movie. Lately I have begun to investigate why.

 For one, I was enamored with Tom Cruise's character, Pete Mitchell. His call sign was Maverick. I thought that was cool. The call sign, Maverick was very fitting for his character. I'm sure you all thought so too. I think there's a lot in a name. It means free thinker, a non-conformist. Some of you might have other words. My adoration with his character had nothing to do with flying planes or being in the Navy. I didn't have a desire to do either. I was watching someone I could connect with. I could understand his inward tension of a desire to push the rules to their limit all the while not wanting to hurt a few who were close. I was drawn to his winning attitude. Some say it was cocky. I'd say it was self-confidence.

  One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Maverick buzzes the tower after beating one of the instructors (below the hard deck and all). He was told not to fly by the tower and he did it any way. I'm not suggesting we should all go out and just break all of the rules and do our own thing. I'm not suggesting living recklessly either. However, pushing things to their limit can be used to bring change to the world. People may view his behavior as insubordinate and arrogant while I cheer it. In the movie he was scolded for his actions. Tower buzzers often find themselves in hot water from time to time. I've been there myself. Look at the heart and you'll see the truth. It didn't seem to matter to his character in the movie. That was until tragedy took place. If you've seen the movie you know what I'm talking about.

   Maverick learned some great lessons in that movie. Through it all he never stopped being who he was. Yes, we are talking about a fictitious character but nonetheless he is a lot like you and me. If you are someone who is wired like this you have a great responsibility to steward what you've been given. Tower buzzers are needed in our world. The world needs all types. However, the tower buzzing hits much closer to home for me. I have lived it and still do. It usually is misunderstood. It's happened to me dozens of times. It still happens today. However, I have grown more secure in my tower buzzing so I don't really pay a lot of attention to naysayers. You shouldn't either.

  Passion, conviction and strong-will should not be confused with anger, closed-mindedness and stubbornness. Too many times this happens. I am a results driven person and I want to succeed and help others. When you know a person, you really know what drives them. For me it's about love and justice. Two reasons which will drive me until I take my last breath. My God has molded and shaped me. Love and justice are what God wants too. I want to be about what He wants. My latest self-reflection has brought these things to the forefront of what I want to see in my world. Justice and love go hand in hand. We need more of both in our world.

 There is nothing wrong with buzzing the towers in your work, school, church, community and neighborhood. I actually encourage it. People may say you need to follow a certain approach to how it's done. I beg to differ. Find your own approach. Be original. Succeed or fail on your own terms based on your own agenda. Figure out what motivates you and what you want to see change. Come up with a plan. Implement said plan. Follow through and don't look back. Tower buzzers don't want to be put in a box. I am not a disrespectful person nor do I want to hurt others. Like I wrote above, it's about love and justice for me. Go buzz the towers around you and bring change. Remember it's about the dash!