Delayed at the Kansas City International Airport. There is not much you can do at an airport this "efficient". It was designed to be user friendly, with terminal "islands" and your ride can just about drop you off at your gate. But when delayed, and with 9-11 security measures, it is not the airport to get stranded in. Not very many choices for food or shopping like Minneapolis or Denver. But I didn't come here to shop.
I am on my way to Colorado for the National Gathering of American Baptist Youth. In youth ministry years, I am feeling my age. An old dog, not in the mood for new tricks. It will be good to connect with friends, but this is the first time in two decades I am not going with a group or taking youth with me. I'm just "working" as the curriculum guy and the trainer for about 70 high school and college small group peer leaders. Speaking of delayed, I could wait another week--more time to prepare and organize. We've had four years to prepare and it seems like every team could use a week or two more.
So--back to "delayed". Story of my life these days. We had a timeline for the new church start that right now is "delayed" until we build more of a core group and identify some leadership for the new church, particularly in music and worship. It can be frustrating when things don't go according to the "paper plan", but then again, I am (re)learning that the timeline is just paper, and the paper is authored by me. My timeline, my way. So we let it go.
What we don't want to let go of is a sense of urgency, a "holy discontent". We don't want to let go of the vision and mission that we have been called to. We don't want to let go of the hope. We can let go of the timeline and "wait upon the Lord"... God help us discern and then live fully within Your time and Your grace.
So, the wandering Israelites, grumbling about their own delay in the desert, even longing for the "comfort" of the life they knew--slavery in Egypt... I imagine they were much like this growing crowd of frustrated travellers all delayed at KCI. Delay upon delay, unsatisfying explanations, only the manna of almost fresh Cinnabon to partake of... Okay so they had it a bit worse than this mass of humanity grumbling around me. In a previous life, I'd be grumbling and stressing a bit more than now, and yet what does that really gain? does it change the length of the airline delay in any way? "And by worrying do you gain any span of time in your life?"
Delayed can be good. Delayed gratification can be rewarding. Honest. Hard to do in this culture, I know! But "Delayed" can be a (re)learning moment for all of us to put things into perspective, those in our control and those not in our control. A (re)learning to live in peace with your neighbor (even the fellow traveller in 31B), and especially in peace with your Pilot, whenever it is time (kairos) to TAKE OFF!
