While I Wait

Life usually doesn't unfold as planned. It is full of pivots, twists, and turns. Even the best-laid plans often go awry, even if only slightly. As a fairly even-keeled person, I have tended to roll with life's waves and breakers. Some of that is natural, but I think most of it is the work of the Spirit. I say that because I also have a bountiful harvest of fretting, and it is a hearty stalk. Not sure who in the family tree planted it, but my grandfather, my mum, my brother, and I all have a fair sowing. It comes out in my life in many ways, but air travel disruptions tend to get the best of me. I already don't enjoy traveling (I love arriving at a place, but the process of getting there is another matter), but then you add on the uncertainty and powerlessness of delays and re-bookings, and it pushes the worry out into the open.

As I write this, I'm on the 4th floor of a hotel near downtown Charlottesville, Virginia. Winter Storm Fern has come and gone, yet I'm still here. I came to town for a three-day conference for Christian architects, intending for it to be a four-day trip. My original flight was set for Sunday. After that flight was canceled, they rescheduled me for Monday. That flight was also canceled after I arrived at the airport. Now, I'm rescheduled to go home on Wednesday, a week after I left. When I departed on Thursday, I anticipated a delay but thought Monday was certain. However, few foresaw the extent of the storm's disruption.

There are times when there seem to be patterns in my life, seasons of similar events. I wonder if perhaps during those times God is trying to get my attention. The areas He is trying to address may be idols I am not even aware of, but the reality is I am 1,000 miles from where He wants me to be. For instance, I don't fly often, but in the past 12 months or so I have had an uptick in personal and TECH related travel. In those travels, almost every trip has seen some form of delay or cancellation. It has been interesting to watch my own response evolve. From the first delay to today, I've seen a noticeable shift from consternation to calm, from perturbed to more peaceful. Not perfect, not perfected, but moving toward Jesus.

For now, I'm not moving anywhere physically, so here I wait. Charlottesville appears to be a lovely town, even though it's currently covered in ice. There are certainly worse places to be stuck. I'm grateful for the kindness of the airlines, the hotel, and the open restaurants. I'm thankful for the opportunity to enjoy the snow and the cold. I'm grateful that my family is safe and warm. I'm thankful for a God who loves us enough to not let us remain unchanged. And yet, here I wait, grateful for all these blessings, but still 1,000 miles away from where I want to be.