Flight Delays

The gate desk attendant had that “deer in the headlight” look as she placed the phone receiver down and spoke quietly to the other airline employee working alongside her. They gave each other that “this isn’t going to be fun” glance. Then the same woman who took the call raised the phone back up to her mouth and began to speak over the intercom.

Change of Plans

“We have some troubling news for those of you flying with us to Minneapolis today. Because of the thunderstorm that we have been experiencing, your plane has been circling the airport. They are now low on fuel and will have to head to Fargo to re-fuel the aircraft before heading back in this direction. Please approach the desk to make arrangements for re-booking, or boarding the upcoming flight to Minneapolis.”

My heart sank. It was 4:30 in the afternoon and I knew that by the time the plane arrived, de-boarded its current congregation of travelers, and brought us on board, it would be too late to catch the last flight to my destination once I reached Minneapolis. I had booked a trip to go and visit my 90 year old mother, and now I had to re-adjust all the plans I had previously made.

There were a number of things to take care of; from calling the car rental desk at my destination and asking them to continue holding my vehicle, to texting my wife and telling her to come back to the airport and pick me up. I would be staying home another night, and awakening early to catch a 5 a.m. flight. Did I mention that I am NOT a morning person?

I don’t like to wait! It’s not in my nature to have patience for these kinds of things…even though they are not within anyone’s control. It took all I could muster to mumble a “thank-you,” and go downstairs to retrieve my luggage for the ride back to our house. I flashed a feeble, defeated half-smile when my family arrived back at the airport, and I re-loaded my items into the vehicle.

A World Full of Trouble

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NIV).

I won’t pretend that missing my flight was extensive “trouble,” but it was a real hassle. It’s one of those occurrences in life that makes your shoulders droop and causes you to mentally check off excursions you had planned to make in the allotted vacation time you had saved up. Something like this doesn’t usually cause one to be despondent, but it is disappointing!

This world is full of trouble…from the depressing news that we’re inundated with every day, as we (and others) struggle through heartache, sickness, and pain…to the gloomy news that our well-laid plans have been interrupted. We’ve already been warned about it though, and the good news that Jesus has overcome the world gives us hope for better tomorrows. Gotta run…I need to catch a flight!

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