This past week I got to be at home and see my little sister get married, it was such a sweet time and we were in all in awe of the redeeming love Christ gives us. I got asked a lot, “So, when do you have to head back?” I would respond with Sunday (day after the wedding) and everyone seemed so surprised. I got to come home to see the wedding and get to be a part of the days before so now, I will return. I am grateful for the time I got at home.
My flight starts off being no more than 30 minutes delayed and I knew I only had an hour in Doha to get to my next flight. We take off and the airline is really apologetic, I think no biggie as long as I can make my next flight. I wasn’t excited about my eight hour layover in Kenya, especially with it being overnight in the airport, but I still did not want the hassle of missing a fight.
When we landed I still had about 45 minutes to get to my next gate so I am rushing to get there and the airline apologizes again for the delay but I think I am still solid to make it so push on. A man meets me on my way to transfers and tells me they actually will not let me on the next flight due to the delay so I needed to go to the transfers desk and get my new boarding pass. Shoot.
I walk over and hand my passport over. I am then told that my next flight is roughly in five hours, okay that isn’t a big deal my first race we spent an entire weekend in an airport. He gives me my hotel check in and meal voucher (meal voucher equal to six days food budget on the race) and I walk away to the hotel shuttle. All complimentary for having to change flights.
I freak out about the hotel accommodations. (I even call my mom to give her a tour. WUT) I get full on shawarma and set an alarm to wake up in a few hours to head back to the airport for my 1am flight.
I EASILY could have gone ahead and sat at my gate for those hours and passed the time (again, I spent an entire weekend on the airport floor last year). I started to think about the ‘’why’’ of these events…why would I rather go and just sit at my gate and pass time than go to a super nice hotel (one way out of my race budget) eat some of my favorite food, rest in a nice bed, maybe even get in another shower that won’t include a bucket all complimentary?
A little inconvenience of going through customs and immigration? That is really what made me think twice about the hotel, two desks and two people for a luxurious few hours….Then I think about the Israelites and how they just had to go and take the land. The Lord had already promised that He would go before them and deliver the land to them, they only needed to go but so many things kept them from enjoying the land flowing with milk and honey.
Is my hotel the same as the promise land? No, but it can be such small things to keep us from entering what the Father has for us. Tonight the Father had some sweet gifts JUST because He loves me, I was reminded tonight when thanking Him that I did nothing to earn it. I will say it louder for those in the back, I DID NOTHING TO EARN THE GOODNESS THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME.
May my eyes be open to the things the Father has for me, no matter the earthly or fleshly inconvenience. May I always choose to not be complacent and happy with what is easiest to me. May my heart believe that I could never do enough to earn the goodness of salvation given to me, that it is such a free gift.
