Morning Meditation: The Journey
Let me preface this post by stating the obvious: I have lived in larger cities; however, Nashville, for a town of this size, has by far some of the worst traffic!
I am traveling this morning, and when I originally booked the flight 3 weeks ago, I decided to change up my routine. I typically fly super early to avoid traffic and long lines! Against my better judgment, I booked my flight for 8:00 am vs. my typical 6:00 am or earlier departure.
My commute to the airport with no traffic is typically 25 minutes. Upon approaching the interstate, I find traffic is literally at a standstill as far as my eyes can see. Do I risk waiting it out? What if there is an accident? I decide to take an alternate route, which turns out to be heavily congested as well.
Ughhh.
I decided to use my navigation app to help me better estimate the time it would take for me to arrive at the airport. Based on the original calculation displayed, I would arrive at the airport 1 hour and 15 minutes before my flight departure, which seemed reasonable. That would leave me with plenty of time for bag check and security screening.
As I proceeded along the route, the navigation system continued to readjust what had initially been calculated. As the commute time increased, so did my level of anxiety about potentially missing my flight. My estimated arrival at the airport had shifted during my commute, leaving me with only 1 hour for bag check and security screening.
At this point, I decided to cast my cares on God, and without thinking, I spoke these words: “The favor of the Lord is upon me. “I thought, what would be the worst-case scenario: Take an alternate flight? Stay home? Sitting in the airport is genuinely not appealing, but it’s also not the end of the world, nor is returning home.
I finally arrive at the airport 1 hour before my flight departure, and I valet my vehicle to save time. Upon arrival at the ticketing area, I notice that there are no lines, which is incredible! I use my mobile device at the designated kiosk to retrieve my flight information and check my bag. The kiosk prompts me to respond to various questions. Since I travel frequently, I robotically proceed through the prompts without much thought. One question, though, causes me to pause briefly to consider how I would respond. Would you like to upgrade to First Class for an additional $99?
I decide against it since my flight is relatively short.
Once my bag is checked, I proceed to Security. The security screening is less than 5 minutes. Amazing, right?
I head to my gate, and I sit in the gate area until it’s time to board my flight. As I access my electronic boarding pass, I notice that I had received a complimentary upgrade to First Class!
I think to myself, wait a minute. What just happened here?
My delayed journey did not occur because of an attack by some unseen spiritual force. God divinely orchestrated it. He used this as an opportunity to teach me that my words, the things I speak are important to Him. My words carry weight with Him.
I learned because of the journey that although the visible eye may only see chaos, disorder, and even delay, God will accelerate your progress at the appointed time to ensure you arrive at your destination timely. Although we may begin the journey with preconceived expectations, we must allow God to lead us.
Sometimes crucial lessons are learned because of the obstacles or delays we face along the journey. Being teachable and recognizing how we respond to what we experience is critical to our maturation and development. Remember to look beyond the obvious, locate God, and allow Him to be your navigator.
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