Airports

I’ve been seeing commercials (in Common Grounds, clearly not my home with not having TV!) for Korean Air and Bangkok Air, which excites me to know that I will be on one of those big fancy planes next week headed home.  (Although I dread the lock down of a 14 hour flight.)

The rush of airports can be fun.  And if you travel a lot, you’re probably pretty good at knowing where your favorite restaurants and shops are in the big cities you travel through.  In Seoul, I always enjoy the nice Smoothie King as my first reward as I head back into the developed world… or maybe as my last treat headed to the not so quite developed world.

Last January, when I made the big move to Cambodia, that moment in the Chattanooga airport was one I hope I NEVER have to experience again.  All I could see was fear, loneliness, uncertainty, and genuinely thinking “Why is NO one in my family getting on this airplane with me?  and what the @#$% am I doing?!”  I honestly felt as if I was walking to my death.

Then in May, I headed home for 2 weeks… absolutely THRILLED to be able to see all the people I love so much and I found joy in that long journey to and fro knowing that when I returned to Cambodia, I knew what to expect this time.

August rolled around and I flew home under such shocking, heavy circumstances with my grandfather’s death and yet again, here I sat on a plane thinking “What am I doing?  This can’t be real.  I am going home to a funeral.”  I remember hoping that the plane would do the “lights out” thing that they do on long flights so I could cry a little.

In one week I will get to feel the buzz of anticipation all over again.  Siem Reap to Seoul.  Seoul to Atlanta.  And Atlanta to HOME!  I know what I am going home to.  I know the weather and mountains.  I know the people and their accents.  I know the music and the decorations.  I know the comforts and the luxuries. 

For some people airports mean vacations… work trips… weddings… funerals… or the beginnings of a search in discovering oneself.

For me-airports mean adventure, excitement, and not discovering-but rather confirming who I am.  Confirming that I will do what is asked of me… I will obey… I will press through when times get tough… I will rest when I need to… I will create… I will listen… I will be honest… and I will be exactly who I am.

Sometimes it makes me uncomfortable when people say, “Wow-you’re a missionary!  That takes a special person!”  In return, I just want to say, “No.  It just takes an obedient one.” 

May your next airport visit be as delightful as mine.