I Missed My Plane, Plain and Simple...

I missed my plane...by three minutes. There are a host of things that can go through one's mind when this happens.  What ifs, why and just plain old embarrassment.  Especially because of the major inconvenience it imposes upon those there, all of them.  But, it is what it is.

Traffic was horrendous when we arrived at the airport.  Security was in a heightened state, or so I was told by the counter people at the gate.  While checking through security, I was stopped and my carry on bags completely unpacked, coffee, digital thermometers et. al.  I was asked why I was taking these to Croatia and generally interrogated but eventually 'released'...thanking me for my patience.  Rushing to my gate, I arrived to an empty waiting area, with a nice, courteous attendant stopping me in my tracks, telling me I missed my plane.  I didn't yell, or fuss much.  Her guard instantly fell, and she seemed quite astonished, her demeanor changing from one of confrontation ready, to instant sorrow.  Maybe she just saw my heart sink.  Maybe she'd never encountered such a 'timid' and unconfrontational response.

The ticket guy at the desk seemed quite surprised as well, and seemed to work diligently to find me another flight...of which I knew there would be none.  He offered me a flight to Philly and told me I'd have to stay overnight and continue on tomorrow, or just leave tomorrow.  Duh...easy answer.

So, with tail between my legs, stunned that all this had occurred, I called Carrie and she lovingly responded that she'd be there as soon as she could.  Returning home, I have been able to fix Carrie's car from an issue discovered as we drove up to see my dad admitted to the hospital yesterday.  I'll not bore you with the details, but there are hosts of things that have tried to goad my patience today, from traffic lights to having to travel to two different dealerships to purchase one $2.86 screw.

As for my dad, jaundice and liver issues have been diagnosed as a gallstone blocking his bile duct, with other stones near by.  He will hopefully have a procedure today to remove them.  I will be able to go back up to be with family and meet my brother and his daughter there at the hospital today, and spend some time, as family, together.   Today, feeling a bit 'numb', I am just going to forge my way, in quiet trust, through my day.  My luggage will return tonight, and I will pick it up tomorrow at 4 am before I leave and recheck it.  I sure hope it all works out.

There are reasons these things happen...probably most of which I will not know.  Of one thing I am sure; these footprints of faith are just that, footprints of someone trying to be faithful, trying his best to do as I am led.  I will make mistakes.  Things will happen even if I don't do anything wrong.  But of one thing I am sure, complaining, belching out profanities and rage will do absolutely nothing to change my situation or what will unfold.  Maybe the grace I can extend to those employees at the gate, and the humility I shared as one disappointed, not in them, but in me, might be severely refreshing.  Maybe for the first time they saw a traveler realizing they had nothing to do with my tardiness and that might be key someday to unlocking some grace in their hearts as these kind workers, deal with stressed out travelers rarely see such a response.

For whatever reason, I missed my plane.  I will get to spend some more time here, with my son, and grandson, taking them and Carrie up to the hospital to be with my dad and mom.  I will get to spend some time with my brother, coming down from Fresno and his daughter coming down from L.A. to be with my folks in this time of his health battle.   And a host of arrangements and inconvenience will be placed on the plate of my friends in Croatia and Bosnia.  But they too are so full of grace, the sweetness of their understanding and love fully felt by this guy, in this situation, this day.  God's people being and living as His?  I am blessed to know such sweet servants and hope that I continue being one with such humility and grace.

I missed my plane, and it is plain and simple that today, as every day will be just as it was planned, but not what I have planned.  And I will walk through today seeking that which was ordained by my God.