The Faith of a Frequent Flyer
I’m stunned. I’ve never had a flight attendant congratulate me before. In mid-flight somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, I made it. “Diamond Medallion” status. Not in a lifetime. Not in a decade. Nope. Not me. I did it in less than a year.
By Tim Hill, director, Church of God World Missions
Well, maybe or maybe not. It just basically means I’ve spent too many days and nights away from home. On the positive side, I’ve learned some great life lessons, met some amazing people, and had some incredible experiences.
Here are a few of the lessons:
Travel light. I quit checking bags long ago. Besides, the fees are ridiculous and you never have to worry about your bag arriving in L.A. with you waiting at the luggage carousel at DFW. I’ve learned that most of the things I used to carry just added to the weight of the load and served no great purpose on the journey. I often grin when I see those in front of me trying to navigate through the check-in process with four bags, two carry-ons, and three rooms of furniture (not really). Traveling light means freedom and less stress.
Be flexible. There are occasions when flights don’t leave on time, trains close the doors just as you’re stepping on, and the taxi driver doesn’t understand English. Becoming uptight on the wrong subway doesn’t help. Doesn’t on the right one either, for that matter. Point is, just take it easy. You’ll get a chance to correct your course soon enough, if you’re flexible.
Update your passport. When you travel as I do, you run out of passport pages quickly. When that happens, you simply have to have more pages added or even get a new one. Whatever you do, don’t let it expire. You aren’t going anywhere outside the country without it. You may have bought a first class ticket, new luggage, and downloaded plenty of new “apps” on your phone to keep you occupied while in route. Doesn’t matter. It starts and stops with the passport.
Custom agents want to see it on departure as well as arrival. Your full name must be inscribed in this accepted and updated government honored document, or you just won’t get in. (Get the point?)
Don’t mistake the airport for home. Remember, it’s a journey. It’s temporary and comes to an end. No matter how much time you spend there and how many know you by name, it’s all about transition. Enjoy the trip, but keep your heart at home. I know every shortcut through most major airports. I can quote you the locations of every Delta Crown Room in every airport from Atlanta to L.A. I know how to pick what will be the shortest line in security. (It’s not rocket science.) I’m more familiar with the process than I’d really like to be.
Point is, I know my way around. I’m a member of most every hotel and airline loyalty club, but my favorite destination is home. Who needs any more souvenirs? My heart is at home. No sight I have seen compares to the house on top of Stonewood Mountain.
These lessons help me navigate through life even more than through airports. I don’t mean to imply that I have it all down and there are no bumps in the road or turbulence in the skies. Even at this moment as I am writing, I’m being knocked all over the sky somewhere near Dusseldorf, Germany. But, I’m buckled in, we’ve started our descent, and if you are reading this, then you know I had a safe landing.
You will, too. It will smooth out just in time, the plane will unload, and your feet will walk steadily upon solid ground once again.
So, just in case I’m not nearby when you reach the next level of your “journey” experience, I’ll say it now. Congratulations!
I hope you are enjoying the trip.
(Source: www.cogwm.org)
