Not an Easy Road

My flight was at 9:45 am. At 9 am, my anxiety was trying to reach out through my chest to speed the shuttle toward me. Why was I waiting for the shuttle to take me to the terminal a mere forty-five minutes before my flight to Florida? What went wrong you ask? All the things.

I woke up fifteen minutes later than I wanted but still left pretty close to on-time. Plus, I allowed extra time for delays.

Confidence and good feelings went downhill from there.

I found myself making good time to the airport . . . until I realized I was headed for the wrong airport. All I can say is I’m not a morning person, and it was very early.

That set me back a few more minutes but nothing to worry about. This is why I scheduled in extra time, right?

Forty-five minutes into an hour and fifteen-minute trip to the airport, I needed to use the restroom. This was not a it-would-be-nice-to-use-the-restroom-if-it-is-convenient-and-I-have-time kind of situation. This was a small-child-must-find-a-bathroom situation (all those vitamins plus coffee to get me going on such an early morning). I was in pain: the kind of pain that had me scanning the side of the road for sufficient cover.

Finally! The exit for the airport. Have I mentioned that this was my first time driving myself to this particular airport? I’m a grown woman who’s traveled internationally and domestically quite a bit over the years. Surely, I can park and ride to the terminal with no problem.

How did I miss the long-term parking? I circled back around. Because there is no sign for long-term parking. What kind of airport does not name the parking travelers use on a long-term basis long-term parking? I circled again. This time I looked for the terminal, hoping there would be a sign for parking somewhere close to it. Economy 4 was at the right terminal … but it was closed. Since it was the last option, I circled back around.

I followed the signs for Economy 3 (I thought) but ended up in the rental car return lot. As my panic over the time rose, my ability to focus deteriorated. What was I going to do? All I could think was “God, You are going to have to help me find my way because I obviously am incapable of doing this on my own.” I may have had tears in my eyes at this point.

After circling the airport for thirty-five minutes, I found the right lot. By the time I made my way to the shuttle pickup area with my two roller bags and a shoulder bag, the pain was excruciating. I couldn’t even sit on the shuttle. If not for the possibility of being arrested for indecent exposure, I was sorely tempted to squat behind a car.

When I finally—finally!—stepped into the airport, I made a beeline for the restroom and then to check my bag.

I was too late! It was 9:17. They couldn’t check the bag. Their system wouldn’t allow it. But I had to get to Florida. Now what? An angel in the form of a ticket agent: After informing me that I would have to reschedule my flight, she leaned across the baggage scale and whispered, “You could just try to get through security and check your bags at the gate.”

And I was off—running to security, throwing everything on the conveyor, praying for no hold-ups. I slid my shoes back on, shoved everything back in my bag, and sprinted for the gate.

Two gate agents visibly cringed as I stumbled over my bags trying to get to my phone containing my boarding pass. Either they had mercy on me, or they figured it would be more of a hassle to reschedule my flight than to just let me on the plane (maybe both). They plastered on the tags and hustled me down the jetway. At 9:33, the beautiful baggage agent stowed my bags under the plane. I found my seat (in the middle of two burly men, of course) and plopped down, trying to slow my breathing. I still can’t believe I made it.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

~ 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Have you ever had a day like this where everything went wrong? It wasn’t one thing but all the things put together. Maybe you’ve had a week or a month like this, maybe a year or a lifetime. Maybe “all the things” includes more than just a flight—loss, a broken relationship, illness.

Here’s the thing. With all that went wrong, even circling the airport for far too long, I still made steps toward my destination … and eventually got there.

That’s what our walks with God can be like—missteps all along the way. Innocent mistakes, not paying attention, and poor choices, can all lead to a confusing and frustrating journey. But are we taking steps forward with God? Do we have a desire to follow God’s leading even when it feels like the road is nothing but potholes? When we surrender our lives to Christ, we aren’t promised an easy road. But we will eventually get to our destination.

When everything goes wrong, the destination still makes the trip worth it.