Feature Profiles
26 July, 2026
Joy of packing a parachute
MY WIFE and I own an old parachute which has been used for decades to play games at picnics, birthday parties and local church youth groups.
MY WIFE and I own an old parachute which has been used for decades to play games at picnics, birthday parties and local church youth groups.
People of all ages, from young children to older adults have had fun together playing games such as “mushroom” or “pop corn” or “chalk, chalk, chalk, cheese!”
Whenever we use this old parachute or watch modern day parachutists hurtling toward earth after jumping out of a plane and then deploying their parachutes I am often reminded of a parachute story.
Charles Plumb was a Navy jet pilot in Vietnam and after 75 combat missions his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands and spent six years in a communist prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures to many groups of people on lessons learned from that experience.
One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said “You’re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kittyhawk. You were shot down!” “How did you know that?” asked Plumb. “I was a sailor on the Kitty Hawk and I packed your parachute”, the man replied. The man pumped his arm and said, “I guess it worked!”
Plumb assured him, “It sure did. If your chute hadn’t worked I wouldn’t be here today. Thank you!”
Plumb couldn’t sleep that night, thinking about that man. “I wonder how many times I might have seen him on the ship and not even greeted him because you see I was the fighter pilot and he was the sailor”. Plumb thought of the many hours in the bowels of the ship this man spent carefully folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands the life of someone he didn’t know.
Now Plumb asks his audiences an additional question, ‘Who’s packing your parachute?” As we go through this week, month, year and the rest of our lives recognise people who “pack our parachute”.
For most of us our parents have been amazing “parachute packers” – from an early age they provide meals, clean clothes, exercise nursing skills, provide educational advice, a listening ear and so it goes on and on. The list is enormous.
Thank them. Appreciate them. As we get older might we reciprocate and might we become their “parachute packers” helping, assisting, listening.
Consider it a joy and privilege to “pack parachutes” for other people. It is good to spend time thinking about other people who are “parachute packers” in our lives, it might be then good to express thanks to them with a note or text message or just words of appreciation.
Just the other day I was using a public bathroom. I noticed the bathroom cleaner working nearby. I noted the toilets were very clean. I said to him, “Thankyou for cleaning these toilets. They are very clean – much appreciated!” The cleaner beamed! He probably does not receive many thanks. He was a “parachute packer” for me (and many others) that day.
Of course the ultimate “Parachute Packer” is Jesus – the One who gives us the gift of life and the One who gave His life for our eternal benefit. “The Son of Man (Jesus Christ) came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many”. (Mark 10:45). Thank Him for what He has done for us on the cross. Turn away from our wrongdoing. Invite Him to be Saviour and Lord of our lives. Invite Him anytime, the best “parachute packer” of all!
It is well worth thinking of the parachute packers in our lives and expressing thanks to them.
This helps bring joy to people around us and thus contributes to building many healthy relationships. Plan to say thanks to a parachute packer soon.
Read More: Loddon Shire