How precious is Your loving devotion, O God, that the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings! - Psalm 36:7
I used to travel quite a bit with my family when I was a kid. We once drove from Nevada to Texas to visit with my dad’s family. All six of us somehow fit in a two door Cadillac and survived the days long journey. We would coast over the snowy Sierra Mountains on our way to California. We flew to Florida and spent time at Disney World. Our family enjoyed touring Washington DC and walking through the White House. As a teen my mother took us on a cross-country train trip with stops in Louisiana, Philadelphia, DC (again), and Chicago. I have fond memories fixed in my mind when it comes to childhood travel.
But now I don’t like traveling. I’m an introverted homebody. I think it might have something to do with the fact that now I am the one who has to do all of the planning, book the tickets, pack my bags, lug around my kids, and brave all of the unknown risks. So I’d rather not go through all of that. It used to be on my bucket list to travel the world. I’m not sure I care about that anymore. I’ve only been out of the country twice (Africa and Israel). And if I don’t go again I think I’m ok with that. Now would I like to visit Europe? Yes. Canada? Yes. Africa on a repeat tour? Yes. South America? Yes. Asia? Yes. If I had a tele-transportation machine I’d be good. Hop in, set the coordinates, press a button, blast through space and time, and arrive at my destination in minutes. I know you are probably laughing at me. Which is fine, go ahead. I’m not ashamed…but maybe just a little fearful.
I had to fly to Maryland about a month ago for a training. I dreaded even thinking about it. I hoped I could get out of it but I could not. Finally, reluctantly, I booked my flight, hotel, rental car, and mentally mapped out the trip. But I feared the unknown, the possibility of some accident, and having to meet new people. Of course this was also days after planes had crashed in Asia, the Middle East, Washington, and Philadelphia. I woke up at 4am in the morning, bid my sleeping family adieu, and left the house…hoping when I returned it would all be ok. I even prayed that God would help me to find a cool friend during the training so that I didn’t have to be alone or eat alone. I know you extroverted travel geeks don’t understand all of this, but welcome to my world.
Long story short, the trip went well. Really well. The flights didn’t fall out of the sky, I arrived in Maryland and the weather was great, I had a good rental car, my hotel was around the corner from where I’d be training at the North American Division offices for the Adventist Church, I met a fellow Executive Secretary from another conference in California while I was in the hotel lobby getting breakfast, and we were both put next to one another during the training. Also, the NAD employees were amazing, my respect level for my church and the upper levels of organization went way up, I saw my mom and older sister who were visiting my younger sister who happens to live in Maryland, and finally I made my return flights and got back home safely to my family…who just so happened to be doing the same thing they were doing when I left five days earlier, sleeping.
God watched over me and blessed every bit of the trip. To add a little more to the story, when I fly I usually choose a seat that is right near one of the wings. I don’t know why, but it makes me feel secure. I imagine that between the wings is the safest place to be. Maybe it isn’t, but it is how I perceive it. While suspended in midair, in a manmade flying machine, I know that those wings could fail. But I am always, constantly, without a doubt in the shelter and shadow of the wings of God Almighty. I may not like traveling much anymore but when the Lord is by my side, in Him I am perfectly safe. And His wings won’t fail. Ever.
Pastor Dean