In the moments after take off there is a silence aboard the plane as everyone anxiously anticipates reaching ten thousand feet (likely so they can pull out their laptops and resume work). Two dings quickly sound and the businessmen instantly begin firing away emails because we cannot and will not be disconnected from planet earth. I find myself slower to grab my lap top as I gaze amazed out the window at the incredible ability to soar above the earth. I must admit that I too spend too much time complaining about slow airplane wifi and my inability to remain connected but today on my flight without wifi I sit silently staring in amazement at all that exists in the world as we know it.
Until the last century there was never the ability to experience so much of God's creation. If we're honest we feel entitled as flight has revolutionized our ability to travel and connected so many communities globally and for someone of my age has always been a viable travel option. The more I travel the more I realize that I am one of the first in our family who have been able to travel the world. I've had the opportunity to visit more places than both sets of my grandparents combined and I am always fascinated on my travels.
People always describe each destination and the differences that abound there but the more I travel the more I see the similarities. There are definitely differences geologically, culturally, etc. but the human experience is so similar it's truly amazing. Everywhere I travel I see families. I see relationships developing. I see people hurting. I see people striving. I see people thriving. I see people surviving. I see the rich and I see the poor and everyone in between. I see that despite the physical differences we are so much the same. Regardless of location we're desperate, we're searching, and we're hoping. We need someone to rescue us and someone to love us well. I'm so thankful that for me I know who that someone is and I've seen his provision time and time again. I've experienced the grace of his forgiveness unimpacted by my stupidity and without regard for my lack of wisdom. I've witnessed his pursuit time and time again. He knows me and yet he chooses to love me deeply.
Cutting across the Great Lakes on my way from Vermont to Chicago I am again encountering the majesty of his rich love. I'm reminded as the fields become small and myself even smaller that a great redemption story is being told. And most of all I am so grateful for these moments of true clarity and the reminder of our greatest hope. I hope that flying brings you the same clarity and that you encounter the truest love which is pursuing you in every instance.
