Tuesday, August 11th
New York City
There are many words that describe my journey thus far, but the three in the title are perhaps the ones that make me laugh about what this year will hold. I made my way to the curb side check-in early this morning with a lot of emotions. One being, exactly what the nice delta person would say about the way I had packed – all my belongings for a year in a 50L pack. And the words I dreaded to hear, fell out of this man’s mouth like a knife to my heart. “Overweight” I had spent countless hours packing and repacking, deciding what I could do without, and recruiting others to help where my skills obviously lacked. I felt confident as I left the house but watched it fade as the words fell on my hopeful heart. And so the process of letting go begins. I had to take out clothes, and shoes, and body wash. All things that are not that out of the question but I had to let them go. I found great assurance in a devotion a friend sent me about the follower’s of Jesus. They only took their tunic. That is it! And look at how God provided and loved them. And all they got to experience!
And as I ponder that, I wonder if they ever sat next to someone like I did on all their travels. I am so thankful that the flight from ATL to JFk was an hour and a half because it was uncomfortable. Perhaps another theme for the year. I passed through security, said my goodbyes and felt pretty good about what was ahead. I walked up to my seat, which if I may say, is always kind of daunting because you never know who you will sit beside. And I had to wake my fellow passenger up. Not by a simple excuse me, but by a tap on the shoulder . It went down hill from there. I can only wonder why he was so tired or why he smelled, it is America! But he snored like it was his job. So much so, I crawled closer to the window hoping no one would think that I was with him as they all looked back to see his exaggerated breathing – and they did look! As he fell in and out of deep sleep, he lost control of his arms and legs and they came crashing in on my personal space. Again, I began to ponder this man and more importantly, my reaction to him. Jesus loves Him and I was moving further away from him instead of drawing him in to the love of Christ. I’d like to tell you that I had this amazing conversation with him after I realized that I was being insisitive, but he slept the rest of the time. And tapping him on the shoulder to wake him from his slumber and ask him questions about his heart, was a bit over the line … at least I thought so. Perhaps my sisters and all those I annoy with my questions would agree!
And so the journey begins!
