---
id: ff26_richard_flying_forward_example
title: FLYINGFREE - Richard's Example of Flying Forward
category: Biblical Life Counsel
predicted_narrative_arc: personal-courage-to-public-example
sentiment: Inspiring
emotions:
- Hopeful
- Courageous
- Pastoral
keypoints:
- Richard plays three to four times a week shooting mid-eighties left-handed
- He did not have a pity party; he developed a brand-new forward strategy
- His example helped people who might have settled for pity
- Friends see courage and inspiration and want to follow his lead
- He provides an example of flying forward with his life
summary: >
  Richard’s left-handed mid-eighties golf becomes more than a hobby score —
  Dean presents it as courage without a pity party that pulls friends forward.
tags:
- flying-free
- chapter-26
- richard-thomson
- example
- pity-party
- courage
- flying-forward
- dean-rush
- book-excerpt
- biblical-counsel
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_26_richard-flying-forward-example.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: 26
book_chapter_title: Perfect Touchdown – Examples in Good Landings
source_file: flyingfree/flying-free-26-perfect-touchdown.md
description: >
  Chapter 26 — Richard’s left-handed play becomes an example of flying forward
  that replaces pity with courage for everyone who knows him.
---

# Richard's Example of Flying Forward

**Author:** Dean Rush  
**Book:** *Flying Free* · **Chapter 26:** Perfect Touchdown – Examples in Good Landings  
**Full book:** [deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md](https://deanrush.net/downloads/flyingfreebook.md)

## Context for the Reader

Chapter 26’s “perfect touchdown” is not private survival only — the landing becomes an example others can follow. This lesson closes Richard’s arc: scores, no pity party, and friends pulled toward courage.

> 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)

Richard’s public effect matches Scripture’s pattern: endurance becomes visible encouragement for others still tempted by self-pity.

| Dean's claim | Scriptural undercarriage |
| --- | --- |
| No pity party; new strategy forward | Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation (Romans 12:12) |
| Example helps many who might settle for pity | Consider how to stir up one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24) |
| Friends see courage and want to follow | Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1) |

---

## Dean's excerpt

### Courage instead of pity

He now plays about three to four times per week and shoots in the mid eighties—left handed. Not only did Richard not have a pity party, he developed a brand new strategy for going forward. He set an example for all of us who know him, and that example has helped many people who might have otherwise been satisfied having pity parties. Instead of pity, Richard’s friends see courage and inspiration and want to follow his lead. He is providing an example of flying forward with his life.

> **Scholar sidebar — Visible endurance**  
> Romans 12:12 holds hope and patience in tribulation. Hebrews 10:24 and 1 Corinthians 11:1 make example a ministry. Dean’s point is not golf scores — it is courage that multiplies.

---

## Takeaways

1. **Real play, real score.** Mid-eighties left-handed is evidence, not hype.
2. **No pity party.** Strategy replaced self-soothing despair.
3. **Example is contagious.** Others who might have settled for pity are helped.
4. **Friends see courage.** Inspiration is what observers receive.
5. **Flying forward.** The metaphor lands: life keeps moving under a new plan.

---

## First-time learner

### What is Dean saying in one sentence?
Richard’s left-handed golf life became an example of flying forward that replaces pity parties with courage others want to follow.

### Why emphasize “example”?
Because Chapter 26’s landings are meant to strengthen more than the one who lands.

### Key verses to read with this lesson
- **Romans 12:12** — Hope and patience in tribulation.
- **Hebrews 10:24** — Stir one another to good works.
- **1 Corinthians 11:1** — Imitate as I imitate Christ.

### A simple practice
Thank one person whose courage under trial has pulled you forward. Name the specific behavior you saw.

### How this feeds Ask Dean
Seed material for: *How does Richard’s story help others? What does Dean mean by flying forward? Why refuse a pity party?*