Right There Under Our Feet

My wife, Ann, and I find ourselves travelling by air  from time to time at this point in our lives for a number of reasons.   First, we travel by air because it is the quickest way to visit family that live many states away.  Secondly,  responsibilities with the United Methodist Church these days sometimes take me to places far away.   Ann and I enjoy travelling and seeing the wonderful world that God has created.   The part I like the least about air travel is going through the security checkpoint.    As one who worked at Ground Zero after the 9/11/2001 attacks,  I understand the reason for the security.  However, I find myself often nervous and a little rattled as I go through the process.  Such was the occasion a few weeks ago.  After I successfully completed the security check and was gathering my belongings,  I discovered that I was missing something very important:  my drivers license.  I had shown it in the security process, but it was no where to be found.  I checked my bags not once, but three times.     I wondered what I would do.  How could I pick up a rental car without a valid drivers license?   How would I manage to go through security on the return flight without that valued document?   As I sat on the plane on the way to my destination, I remembered that I had taken my shoes off in the security process.   I wondered if maybe my drivers license was in my shoe.  When I departed the plane,  I quickly found a seat and took off my shoes.  Lo and behold, there was the precious drivers license that I had been missing.   It had been there right under my feet all the time. 

The loss of my drivers license was a scary experience.   It taught me an important lesson not just about securing carefully my valuables, but also about life.   Sometimes, it is right there under our feet.   Mission is certainly in faraway places, but sometimes the opportunity for missions in right there under our feet in the neighbor down the street or the person across the office.  Many people travel far to see the beauty of God’s creation, but it also right there under our feet in the flower in our yard, the smile from a family member, or the sight of a sunset.   Have a joy-filled week.—  Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:    O God, thank you for the wonder of this world that is all around us.   Give us a heart to see the beauty of it all and the needs of all;  through Christ our Lord.  Amen.