Flying to God: An F-16 Pilot's Journey of Faith, Purpose & Calling | Tom Cedel

<p>In this episode of the Spiritual Ninja Podcast, Jonathan Hewitt sits down with Tom Cedel, retired Air Force F-16 pilot, university president, educator, scientist, and lifelong student of faith, to explore one of life&#39;s biggest questions: What are we here to do?</p><p>Tom&#39;s remarkable journey takes him from flying F-16s and serving in the military to earning a PhD, leading a university, mentoring future leaders, and navigating cancer. Through all of it, one idea kept returning: vocation is not about what you get. It&#39;s about who you serve.</p><p>Together, Jonathan and Tom explore:</p><p>• What it really means to find your calling<br>• Why your purpose may be bigger than your career<br>• How faith can provide a foundation during uncertainty<br>• Why disappointment and unexpected detours may be part of your path<br>• The connection between vocation, service, and community<br>• How to listen to your heart instead of living entirely from your head<br>• Why character and competence must grow together<br>• The meaning of an &quot;upright heart and skillful hands&quot;<br>• How relationships can help us stay grounded through difficult seasons<br>• What cancer taught Tom about how he wants to live<br>• Why life may be less about &quot;me&quot; and more about &quot;us&quot;<br>• How kindness, service, and community can become a spiritual practice</p><p>Tom also shares a powerful perspective on purpose:</p><p>&quot;It&#39;s not about me. It&#39;s about community. It&#39;s about us.&quot;</p><p>This is a deeply human conversation about faith, purpose, service, leadership, resilience, and learning to trust the path even when life doesn&#39;t unfold the way we expected.</p><p>If you&#39;ve ever wondered What am I supposed to do with my life?, How do I find my calling?, or What is my purpose?, this conversation offers a grounded and deeply personal perspective.</p><p><strong>Connect with Tom Cedel</strong></p><p>🔗 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-tom-cedel-b9b5a87/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-tom-cedel-b9b5a87/</a></p><p><strong>Explore Spiritual Ninja</strong></p><p>🔗 <a href="https://spiritualninjapodcast.com/">https://spiritualninjapodcast.com/</a></p><p>Subscribe for more conversations about spirituality, personal growth, purpose, consciousness, leadership, and learning how to live with greater clarity, connection, and freedom.</p><p>#PurposeOfLife #FindingYourCalling #SpiritualGrowth #Faith #LifePurpose #SpiritualNinja #PersonalGrowth #Vocation #Leadership</p>