She sat beside me on the plane. A new dress, colors of red and orange and yellow so bright, with white sandals on her feet. A wig made her look youthful, though her years were evident in her face.
So was the fear.
With trembling hands she took out her tickets and thrust them my way as our plane touched down in Atlanta.
“What do I do next?”
I showed her the number of her next flight and promised I’d stand with her and find her gate on the monitor. As she walked in front of me out of the plane, her gait was uneven and seemed painful.
I pointed to the monitor and shared the gate number. She repeated “B-22” at least 10 times under her breath.
She and I took off down the crowded corridor and then suddenly she took a right and went into the bathroom.
Go in.
I was 100% certain I was supposed to follow her, but I couldn’t. Follow a stranger into the bathroom? Help her when she clearly made a choice to move away from me?
That’s when I almost missed my assignment.
I reasoned that she might not want help, but I have to be honest. Our last flight was delayed, so it was close for both of us. We were in two different terminals.
So I kept walking.
Then I realized I had missed the exit by 10 gates. I spend a lot of time in airports and I know where the escalator to the train is located.
10 gates.
The whole time God hammering in my heart to go back and get her.
I can see missing a familiar exit by one gate, but not two, and certainly not ten.
Had my God delayed me?
I turned, knowing with everything within me the sight I would see when I arrived at the escalator.
And there she was.
A beautiful orange and red and yellow dress moving toward me with that painful gait in a crowd of thousands. She arrived at the escalator at the EXACT moment as I did. I fell in line, standing on the step just behind her.
She turned, and in her hand was a crumpled paper towel wet with her tears.
I looked at the airport, my second home away from home, through her eyes. Five terminals. Thousands of people, all busy and rushing. Numbered gates and signs with icons of airports and arrows that point at crazy angles. A train with bells and whistles and a mechanical voice sounding out the next terminal number.
“Can I walk with you all the way to your gate?” I asked.
“Do you remember my gate number?” she asked, digging in her purse for her ticket.
“B-22,” I said.
When we landed at her gate, she reached out her hand and our fingers laced.
Then I ran to my gate.
Thankful for a God who blinded me to the gate so that I walked a long way out of my way. . . just for her.
Thankful for a God who sees a woman crying in the bathroom and meets her need.
Thankful for a God who wouldn’t let me miss my assignment for the day.
What is your assignment today?
Will it take you out of your way?
Will it be an answer to someone’s prayer?
Will it bring them comfort when they don’t know where to turn?
Will it show them His love?
Suzie
Truly amazing how many divine appointments are encountered in an airport or during our times of traveling from one destination to the next:) Thanks, Suzie!
We know what God’s urging is and he sometimes speaks loudly to get our attention & then we are so thankful we did not miss that opportunity to show others love and hope. I love your story. He works it all out for us Always! Love it!
I am always asking the Lord to USE me in any way I am needed, so as I was getting ready to attend a friend’s wedding recently, I reached for a safety pin to use on my fabric belt, then I grabbed a second pin and used that one too. We enjoyed the lovely wedding and at the reception the bride’s shoulder strap suddenly came loose from one side of her dress. Then it hit me, my second safety pin was available to save her day and wardrobe malfunction! I ran up to her and pinned her strap in place and we both laughed about my extra safety pin. As I walked back to my seat, I was in awe of our Lord and all the details he lovingly cares about. He knew the bride would need a safety pin, and counted on ME to deliver it! Love is never more beautiful than when it is in action. 🙂
Thank you for your insight, it has encouraged me to act when I have that little push from the Lord. I often hold back in fear of trying to help in a situation where no help is wanted. I am going to try to offer my help in spite of my fear and if the person does not want my help, well then, they can send me on my way. Better to be sent away then miss the opportunity to help someone in need.
Thank you for sharing this. Often it is difficult to hear Him or feel His tug or push. Hugs, chocolates and blessings.
Hugs, chocolate and blessings? Yes, please and thank you!
{Melinda} Beautiful, Suzie. I shudder to think of the divine appointments I’ve missed because I’ve been too focused on where I need to go. So glad you followed that nudge to go back. Love your tender heart.
I could feel the hammer in your heart as I’ve felt the same before. The struggle between faith and being practical. I applaud you for listening to the Spirit. Thanks for sharing.
It takes time and a lot of good listening to be sure when I think God is telling me to do something He wants me to do or I just think it is Him talking. I have had to learn to pray and say, “God make this abundantly clear to me whatever it is that You want me to do.” I can easily misunderstand and take on something that is not intended for me to do. I must stay in my Bible daily to know when it is His voice not me thinking it is His voice. I am one of those who tries to do too much and then wonders why she is worn out. Takes lots of time, trial and error. Mostly staying in tune with God through His Word. Mary
I love your prayer. It’s a beautiful way to confirm what you think is being said.
Suzie,
I’ve been through so many airports over the years and to this day some of them are so big and scary and difficult and complex to maneuver within. Couple it with being hearing impaired so that I can not hear directions or overhead announcements and it really becomes frustrating. I am so glad you found this woman again and guided her to where she needed to go.
How many times have I failed to listen to that still small voice in my heart, brushing it away in an instant instead of responding in faith. I have promised myself that next time I will stop and listen and do whatever I am led to do.
For years I’ve asked God to use me but that I needed billboards to hear Him. Until the last month I’ve had to let go of everything and learn to rest in Him to get my health back in line. Now that I’m learning how to be in the moment and enjoying where I’m at I hear God’s small voice encouraging me and I’m on the right path, and to call a fellow Christian friend who is in the same place I’m at with our health. At the end of our phone call she said, I feel so much better and my reply was the same. while I lay in my bed laughing at our discussion. Thank you Suzie for this encouraging post.
This really hit home. Just a few days ago I think I may have not listened to God telling me to do something. But, I was afraid. I also, am not sure if it is me thinking I need to do this or if it is God. But, I do know this for the past couple of days I have asked for forgiveness, but I still won’t let it go. I am the one beating myself up over it. I know God forgives when we ask, and I cried that night on the way home, to God. So yes this is difficult but thank you for your encouraging words. These was words I needed to hear(see), so I can let go.
I can relate to your words Mary. I think letting go means different things to different people and to me it meant that I would lose my pain which I wasn’t ready to lose yet… I know it sounds crazy, why would anyone want to hold on to pain, but for me it was all that was left, or so I thought. I was only able to let go when I had to make a choice between MY Way or the Lord’s Way. The letting go is the first of many steps we take in our walk with the Lord. I have since learned to let go sooner rather than later. And joy is way better than any pain.
I’ve missed assignments before, too. I remember one was in a Charlotte airport bathroom. All I could think of was, “Seriously God, you want me to talk to someone in the bathroom?” I missed it and I regret it. If I could go back, I would. If you can go back, do. If you can’t, please know that there will be another and ask God for the strength and wisdom to act on it with His help.
I struggle with, when is it God guiding/asking/leading/directing me and when when is it me imagining that’s what He wants, or simply THINKING it’s what he wants me to do/say, etc. How do you know? I’m the type that needs a huge billboard lit up in neon with arrows and songs singing the whole way. LOL! Seriously! I know it sounds crazy but I really struggle with this. At one time I took far too much on and ended up getting burned out. Then I shut down. I have recently started to dig myself out of that dark hole. I know I’ll get there, it’s just going to take some time.
Thanks, Suzie
Great question. If you see the picture you’ll see thousands are in the airport. He didn’t ask me to tend to the thousands. He simply pointed out one.
Not all assignments are our assignments.
Say yes to those you know God places on your heart. Let others pick up their assignments.
Oh Jean! Your words are my words! Your questions are my questions! Thank you for voicing them! Cindy