---
id: ff22_strap_it_on_make_it_yours
title: FLYINGFREE - Strap It On Make It Yours
category: Biblical Life Counsel
predicted_narrative_arc: casual-effort-to-whole-self
sentiment: Convictional
emotions:
- Convictional
- Practical
- Steady
keypoints:
- Director of operations: do not climb into the airplane — strap it on
- Make the airplane a part of you
- Do whatever you take on to the best of your ability
- Don’t take a mission unless you will make the activity part of you
- Avocation as ultimate job — enjoy the work as hobby every day
summary: >
  The Vietnam briefing’s first point: strap the airplane on, make it part of
  you — Dean applies it to life and work: whole ability, no half missions, and
  the joy of avocation over mere employment.
tags:
- flying-free
- chapter-22
- strap-it-on
- excellence
- vocation
- briefing
- dean-rush
- book-excerpt
- biblical-counsel
- level-flight
sycophancy: 0
truth_score: 9
entropy: 2
sample: false
consent: owner_approved
agent: flyingfree
created: '2010-01-01'
updated: '2026-09-09T00:00:00Z'
vault_stage: 07_CODEX
headwaters: FLYINGFREE
prefix: FLYINGFREE
enrich_status: ok
enrich_blockers: []
enrich_method: manual
pipeline_filename: FLYINGFREE_22_strap-it-on-make-it-yours.md
source_kind: book_excerpt
proposed_topic: FlyingFree
lane: FlyingFree
voice: desk
active_voice: desk
voices:
- desk
routing_source: carbon
corpus_topic: FlyingFree
content_status: active
date: '2010-01-01'
share_url: https://deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md
source_url: https://deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md
site_category: Flying Free
book_title: Flying Free
book_chapter: 22
book_chapter_title: Level Flight – Build Faith into Life
source_file: flyingfree/flying-free-22-level-flight.md
description: >
  Chapter 22 — “strap it on”; make the mission part of you; best ability;
  avocation as ultimate work.
---

# Strap It On Make It Yours

**Author:** Dean Rush  
**Book:** *Flying Free* · **Chapter 22:** Level Flight – Build Faith into Life  
**Full book:** [deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md](https://deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md)

## Context for the Reader

This chapter closes Section II by building faith into life. After the Vietnam setup, Dean gives the briefing’s first entrenched point: you do not casually climb in — you strap the airplane on and make the work part of who you are.

> Voice note: Everything under **Dean's excerpt** is Dean's original prose (lightly cleaned only). Sections marked **Biblical foundations**, **Scholar sidebar**, **Takeaways**, and **First-time learner** are enrichment for Asker / first readers — not Dean speaking.

---

## Biblical foundations (preface)

Dean’s “strap it on” is wholehearted commitment. Scripture refuses lukewarm work and honors labor done as unto the Lord.

| Dean's claim | Scriptural undercarriage |
| --- | --- |
| Make the work part of you; best ability | Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might (Ecclesiastes 9:10); work heartily, as for the Lord (Colossians 3:23) |
| Don’t take the mission half-in | No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back (Luke 9:62); lukewarm I will spit out (Revelation 3:15–16) |
| Joy when work is avocation | Delight yourself in the Lord (Psalm 37:4); it is good for a man to enjoy his work (Ecclesiastes 3:22) |

---

## Dean's excerpt

### Strap it on

The briefing for that flight told us two significant things, and they are entrenched in my memory for life. The director of operations for the unit stood before us and told us that when we walked out to the ramp where our airplanes were parked, we were not to climb into the airplane. He said we were to “strap it on.” We were being told to make the airplane a part of us. I have interpreted that instruction to mean that if I am going to do something in life I should do it to the best of my ability. Don’t take on a mission unless you are going to make the activity a part of you. My boss once said that if you are working at your avocation you have the ultimate job. You no longer must go to work. You are enjoying your hobby every day of your life.

> **Scholar sidebar — Whole body in the seat**  
> Ecclesiastes 9:10 and Colossians 3:23 demand might and heart. Luke 9:62 and Revelation 3:15–16 refuse half-commitment. Dean translates ramp language into vocation: strap the calling on — or do not walk out to the jet.

---

## Takeaways

1. **Not climb — strap.** Language change signals identity, not mere boarding.
2. **Part of you.** Aircraft (and life work) become extension, not rental.
3. **Best ability.** Interpretation: whole effort on whatever you take.
4. **Mission filter.** Refuse work you will not make part of yourself.
5. **Avocation joy.** Ultimate job feels like hobby lived daily.

---

## First-time learner

### What is Dean saying in one sentence?
The briefing said do not climb into the jet — strap it on and make it part of you; Dean applies that to life: best ability, no half missions, and work that can become avocation.

### Why “strap it on” for faith and recovery?
Because level flight under stress needs owned commitment, not a casual seat in crisis religion.

### Key verses to read with this lesson
- **Ecclesiastes 9:10** — Do it with your might.
- **Colossians 3:23** — Work heartily as for the Lord.
- **Luke 9:62** — Hand to the plow.
- **Revelation 3:15–16** — Not lukewarm.
- **Ecclesiastes 3:22** — Enjoy your work.

### A simple practice
Name one role you have only “climbed into.” Write what “strap it on” would change in next week’s habits — then do one concrete change.

### How this feeds Ask Dean
Seed material for: *What does strap it on mean? How does Dean apply the Vietnam briefing to work? What is avocation?*