We were stuck. All 6 of us. Me, my wife and all 4 children. Stuck in LaGuardia airport at 4:30 a.m. (That's in the morning; before the sun is up; before most of the world is awake.)
“Mr. Parks, I'm sure you know your flight has been cancelled,” the ticket agent droned. I didn't. “But don't worry,” he continued. “We've already got you rebooked … for 3 days from now.” I hadn't planned on our trip ending this way. It had sort of gone differently in my head.
One thing I've learned in my years of travel is this: when you're stuck – when a flight is delayed, re-routed, cancelled – get as close to your destination as you can, just as soon as you can.
So, after 90 minutes of phone calls (sometimes with a phone at each ear) and discussions with 3 different airline representatives, we got on a flight that would take us halfway home that night. We had approached the ticket counter at 4:30 a.m. We departed the airport that night at 8:45 p.m. Still, it beat hanging around, homeless, for 3 more days. And as far as our destination (home) was concerned, we were getting as close as we could, as soon as we could. The upshot is that about 24 hours later than we'd anticipated, we arrived home.
Look, I don't know where you are right now. I don't mean physically or geographically, though that could be a problem, too. I'm really thinking about where you are emotionally, spiritually; where you are on the “I'm satisfied with the way my life is going” scale. You may feel stuck. You may actually be stuck. You may feel aimless, lost, forgotten, unappreciated, neglected. Confused about what you should be doing, and where you should be doing it. You may rightly feel you've been dishonored, slandered, treated unfairly; like you've got a target on your back and the arrows of criticism pierce your soul.
Can I suggest that you remember your destination? That you take the next logical, prayer-soaked step? Can I encourage you to put your head down and do what you can at this moment to fulfill what you know without a doubt you've been created to do? To recall the stories of Jehoshaphat, Esther and the Israelites at the Red Sea? To glance at your surroundings but gaze on your goal?
Can I remind you to get as close as you can as soon as you can?
Your ministry may change, but your calling never does.