I’ve spent a lot of time in airports this past week. And this was not a happy thing.
It’s not like I was going someplace exotic like Bora Bora, or ran into Mumford and Sons on their way to the Grammys.
With the mega snowstorm that hit plus, normal mechanical stuff, It was just a matter of multiple delayed flights where each update means a gate change and a later departure.
And so it meant sitting.
And waiting. Hours and hours of waiting.
Years ago John and I heard a motivational speaker who, in these situations used the refrain “You can cancel my flight, but you can’t cancel my day!”
That sounds so…positive! So cheery. So empowering.
But it’s just an annoying quote when your life is about being productive and on the go and you’re sitting in an airport, missing the event you’re scheduled for, or waiting to get home and your husband texts that line to you. Are you with me?
When your plans are upended and you feel upended like Charlie Brown, once more having the football snatched away just as he was kicking, and you’re out of control, how do you control what you can – your attitude?
I’d like to be super spiritual and tell you all the Scripture that came to mind, but here’s how it went.
First I tried the practice of thanksgiving. I was very thankful they aborted the first take off of one of my flights half-way down the runway, throwing on the brakes when an emergency light came on. Safety is always good in my book.
And I was thankful for the cute little girl in the terminal with the Tinkerbell peeking out of her backpack. And then I was pretty much done with thankfulness (with apologies to Anne Voskamp :)). Still unproductive and waiting…
Next I tried praying while unclenching my hands, letting go of my need for power and control. Very unproductive and still waiting (but it felt like the right thing to do)
Then, I tried to see Jesus. To be present and aware of passengers around me who I might encourage. But every head was down, every eye seemed to be glued to Iphones while mine was dead (This was not on my “things I’m thankful for” list!).
Lastly I tried to smile. I had just heard about a new study out that shows that smiling affects your attitude, reduces stress, and increases heart health. Sounded good to me.
I tried, but I felt kind of like a Stepford Wife, plastic and robotic. And I think people wondered if I was a little “off” shall we say. I was unproductive, still waiting, and my mouth muscles hurt.
In the end I bought a Chik-fil-A sandwich and a People magazine.
I remember hearing someone say once that God wants to give us a “snow day” every week with Sabbath. Why do we resist? Why do we seem so addicted to “doing”… to being recognized for what we accomplish? Is it born out of a fear that being God’s beloved child isn’t enough?
Maybe, we need to relax and remember God’s ok with unproductive. Having Chik-fil-A and a little Sabbath at Gate C6 was not a bad thing.
How do you handle interruptions to your plans and out-of-controledness?
