I just
finished reading a devotional on/about Patience. To be honest, I feel anything
but patient today… What started out as a 3 day trip back to Angola (from some
time in the States) has now turned into a seven day saga.
First, we
had to run to catch our international flight in Atlanta. We boarded just as the
“last call” for passengers to Johannesburg was made. But as we stood at the
luggage carousel in Johannesburg, we realized that even though we had made the
flight, our luggage hadn’t. We had to make a decision go on to Angola or wait
for our luggage. Because of unavoidable complications claiming unattended
baggage, we decided to wait for our suitcases. Two days later, we finally had
all 4 of our bags. But now there were no seats available on the flights we
needed to reach our home in Lubango.
We waited
for two more days, until we finally had new tickets in hand. We made it to
Luanda but missed that connecting flight to Lubango due to a broken down plane
and overbooking. So after paying yet another change fee we booked seats on the
flight the next day.
We didn’t
know anyone to call and had no idea where to stay. So we had to rely on a
stranger for transportation and a place to spend the night. It was expensive,
but the air conditioner worked!
Frustrated?
Yes. Just wanting to get home? Yes. Weary of travel? Yes. Tired of public
places? Yes! Patient? No!
But the
author of the devotional pointed out “The Lord is patient with you.” (2 Peter
3:15) and, of course, patience is one of the fruits of the spirit in Galatians
(chapter 5). We have joked that if “tribulation works patience” then we should
be extremely patient and we don’t want any more patience. Besides, what
difference does being patient make? “Because, as Liz Curtis Higgs says, “ When
we are patient in an impatient world, we show people the One Who is patient
with us.”*
Ok, ok, I
get it! Be patient! So I will order another coffee and wait patiently for our
flight home to be called…
-- Also see updated prayer requests and praises under "Pray" to the right. --
