By Brad Layland, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Consultant
Some of you may know that I have started to learn to fly. It has been a lifelong dream that is both fun and challenging. Last week, as I was landing in Athens, GA (with my flight instructor), the plane landing in front of us landed on the wrong runway. My flight instructor informed me that the pilot who had just landed on the wrong runway could lose his license for doing what he just did.
As I took all that in, it made me recall a similar incident in 2012. What could have been a tragedy instead became a powerful lesson in grace and leadership. An Army C-17 cargo plane, piloted by a crew intending to land at MacDill Air Force Base, mistakenly touched down on a tiny runway at Peter O. Knight Airport in Tampa Bay, FL. This mistake was nothing short of monumental and could easily have resulted in a catastrophic accident.
Among the passengers on that flight was a friend of mine, traveling inside the plane in an Airstream trailer that served as the mobile office for the four-star general he worked for. Imagine the tension at that moment: the plane landed on a runway not designed for such a large aircraft, an apparent deviation from the intended haven of MacDill AFB. My friend described the atmosphere inside the plane as quite disconcerting–the kind of experience that leaves one reflecting on the temporal nature of life. An astonished bystander even captured the moment in this amateur video.
Once the plane came to a stop, the general did something completely unexpected. Rather than getting upset and waiting for the pilot to go to him to profusely beg for understanding, the general swiftly and proactively moved to the cockpit and asked the pilot if he was okay. He then allayed the pilot’s concerns regarding what had just happened, conveying complete understanding and compassion.
This incredible act of grace and leadership struck me profoundly. But the general didn’t stop there. Upon returning to his headquarters at MacDill, he immediately took the extraordinary step of personally calling the chief of staff of the Air Force to inform him of what had happened and to advocate on the junior officer’s behalf that he not be punished or reprimanded. My understanding is that the Air Force general offered his sympathy as he had done a similar thing as a junior officer himself, and someone had obviously underwritten his mistake.
In a situation where the pilot could have faced serious repercussions, possibly even the end of his career, the general chose to extend understanding and compassion. This act of grace serves as a reminder that in life, we all stumble. We all have moments of failure. We are not Jesus. The true measure of character is how we respond to these mistakes—both our own and those of others.
This story is not just a tale of military grace under pressure; it reflects how we, as individuals, should treat each other. The principle of treating people with grace and love is paramount in our daily lives and especially in our work in fundraising and non-profit management.
In fundraising, we often say, “People give to people.” This means that, at its core, fundraising is about human connection. Donors choose to give because they trust and believe in the people asking for their support. It is about relationships built on trust, empathy, and understanding.
When we treat each other with the same grace the general showed that day, we build stronger, more genuine connections. We become more than just fundraisers; we become partners, friends, and a community working together for a greater good. We represent Christ and care for the world around us by embodying the love and grace He teaches us to extend to one another.
I was reminded of this grace a few years ago when I received a significant six-figure gift from a major donor for the work I was a part of. In my excitement over this incredibly generous donation, I neglected to call and thank them. Several weeks passed, and one day, I bumped into the donor unexpectedly. As soon as I saw this person, I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me. I walked up to them, apologized profusely for not expressing my gratitude in a timely manner, and explained how much their gift meant to us. To my relief and surprise, they responded with complete grace, truth, and love. They understood, forgave my oversight, and reassured me of their continued support. That moment reinforced the importance of grace and the power of treating people with kindness and understanding, even when we fall short.
As we navigate the complexities of life and work, let us remember that everyone makes mistakes. By offering grace instead of judgment, we uplift others and pave the way for deeper, more meaningful relationships. Let’s commit to being humans with humans, loving one another through every triumph and every error.