So it’s 11:07am on Saturday morning and my plan touches down in the Atlanta airport. I begin trekking for what seemed miles to baggage claim to meet up with one of the women on the trip who just happens to also be from Michigan. As she waits with me by the carousel, we see hiking backpack after hiking backpack make their rounds on the black conveyor belt. It was somewhat of a strange, yet exciting, experience to know that there were others that would soon be joining us- men and women that would be my family over the next year.
Bag by bag was carried by us until there were only a few stragglers remaining. Then the doubts came…
Was it possible that my bag had been lost during my connection? Where would I sleep? My tent was in my pack, as well as all the essentials I would need to camp out over the next 9 days in Georgia. At the first onset of doubts, a peace that surpassed all my understanding washed over me. Months ago I would have been devastated, scared, and unsure of what to do. Now, I am able to stand and smile- laugh actually. Why I thought the only challenges and lessons would be learned at Training Camp, I’m not sure… 🙂
Sometimes God uses large events in our lives to begin to mold and shape us. Other times He gives us missing luggage…
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” James 1:2-3
