11.04.10 – 11:57pm – South African Airways Flight
On a plane ride to Dakar, Senegal in route to Johannesburg (JOH), South Africa, with an overnight stay before flying into Blantyre, it did not worked as planned. We hustle and scramble to get on a flight that will get us to Blantyre in time for the ordination service. This is, as a friend of mine would say, “a character building exercise.”
Originally scheduled to fly earlier this morning, we missed our flight. We left my house about 30 minutes late, for reasons that I will not discuss. I’ll just say that I took the opportunity to talk to the team about the true cost of time.
30 minutes costs a lot in international travel and missions. It will cost more money, it will require an overnight stay in Blantyre, and it will require that we make at least 20 phone calls, it will cost “spiritual energy”, and it will have an impact on reputation. Not to mention all of the folks who have planned and prayed for those 30 minutes. And all of the people that have been waiting in expectation for us to get there. And what about the folks who have to fight to get a ride to the meeting we were supposed to have, but now can’t because we won’t make it there in time. And the hourly costs of the business persons sitting in the room, waiting for us. The cost of gas of all of the people getting to the meeting. The cost of the room rental. Yes, 30 minutes is very, very expensive.
Commit to being early, not just on time.
We got to the airport in enough time to check in our bags, so our bags are on a different plane. No one could tell us whether they will be in JFK, in JOH, or in Malawi. So, we are on this flight and will figure it out when we get there.
To further our character building, we are tired and challenged, so we get the distinct pleasure of riding behind two crying babies on a seven-hour flight, while sitting next to ladies who talk for seven straight hours.
Faith. Perseverance. Faithfulness. Gentleness.
Romans 8:28 is my meditation.
