Mark Sorensen The Lord has a funny way of keeping me centered.
Hundreds of seats on this jumbo 777 and I get the seat with the non working headset therefore allowing me to watch the images I whatever movie, television show, or documentary I wish to see but not hearing the audio. Fourteen hours of silent movies and lip reading.
So what’s a guy to do where there’s no mind numbing, brain distracting, “Hollywood take me away” engagement for my brain? Conversation.
There’s Jamal. He’s on my left. He is headed back to India to see his parents. He works in the states and is taking vacation to visit his mom and dad whom he hasn’t seen in years. He’s surprising them. There’s Cliff. He’s on my right. He’s a pilot. He confesses off the bat that he works too much. But, “piloting is in the family blood”. His father was a pilot. His grandfather did aviation acrobatics for a circus in the 1930’s. He says, “Look. When your calling is in the blood like that, it’s just not right to do anything else.”
Stories. Everyone has one. We just may not hear them because we don’t take the opportunity to find them.
We have just touched down in New Delhi. Short of the four hour nap I have taken (which, by the way, I awoke from to the sound of a ‘snort’ that apparently came from my own nose, thereby startling everyone within a ten seat radius of my location), I have been in the Word, sharing my fears, joys, doubts with the Lord, as well as hearing the stories of those around me. As I reflect on these remaining few hours before touchdown, I am reminded of the ways that noise robs me of relationship. Honestly, from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep, something is filling the air whether it’s television, radio, Facebook or SiRi reminders on my phone. However, I’m also constantly surrounded by people. What if my preoccupation with my phone or other forms of entertainment robs me of a conversation that might be had by someone that God places in front of me? Or, better yet, in seats 10A and 10C?
It’s been a long flight. Honestly, I have loved the distraction of being freed from the noise that I allow all too often to fill my head. Now, having just touched down in India, bring on the conversations with my brothers and sisters from around the world.
Headphones off, technology setting to “silent” and ready to see what God has in store.
It’s now 11:11 pm. LONG day of travel. Ready for sleep and another day of travel. Appreciate your prayers!
