Subject to Change (Part 2)

From the warmth and comfort of home, reflections on my Subject to Change drama continue. Further directional information comes to light:

GPS Coordinates for Navigating an Airline Crisis

1. Realign expectations

In such a situation, open your hand; release your itinerary, and relinquish your timetable. Acknowledge peacefully that life, in reality, is always subject to change.

2. Reject selfishness

Recognize that everyone within your 360-degree radius has a destination they need to reach, a set of plans they need to fulfill, a project they need to present, an assignment they need to complete. Weddings, funerals, or births beckon each of them. Each individual has something on the line; now their plans, too, are subject to change.

3. Revel in the proximity of God

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good (Psalm 73:28).

My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest (Exodus 33:14).

His proximity is not subject to change.

4. Relish the strength and security of His promises

Mustering all of your mental might, navigate the bizarre ambiguity by choosing to GPS your circumstances according to the landmarks of His promises, which are never subject to change.

God loves me and God is in control. I have loved you with an everlasting love and underneath are the everlasting arms (Jer. 31:3; Deut. 33:27b KJV).

Right!

God promises to take care of me. My God shall supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19 NKJV).

Right!

God intends to bless me, even in this crisis. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jer. 29:11).

Right!

God has equipped me to handle, in His power, this situation. His divine power has given (me) everything (I) need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

So therefore?

Though it is never convenient to be inconvenienced, fan the flames of your faith, and live as though He is real, and act as though His Word is true.

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

When did you last have an important situation go upside down?

How did you gain your equilibrium?

Looking back, what would you have done differently?

What lesson stays with you?

Subject to Change (Part 1)

I collapsed at the waiting area of Gate C20, and hoped this flight would finally take off and transport me home. Exhaustion increased exponentially by the minute. My red Athletes in Action carry-on bag (whose contents I long ago gave up trying to organize) felt as though concrete bricks hid inside. Large glass windows protected me from the bleak wintery weather, but its mood seemed written across the faces of forlorn passengers milling about. Most were anxious, a few were ambivalent, and some were down right angry.

In this setting, sharing my row with other displaced individuals, I casually glanced down at my boarding pass. And, for the first time ever, I noticed the fine print. Three simple words—subject to change—leapt from the paper. This benign phrase held bragging rights to my situation.

Let me backup.

January travel plans called for me to join Larry in Indonesia where a rare ministry opportunity awaited us. So, on a bitterly cold morning, I locked our door, and set out for Asia where the thought of warm weather beckoned. I put my key away and mentally reviewed a list: thermostat set, check; mail held at post, check; lights selectively left on, check; passport in hand, check; medication for my ailing ear, check. Ready, set, go!

My scheduled journey went from Cincinnati to Detroit, Detroit to Seoul, Seoul to Indonesia. (Long, extremely looong, but doable.) After two days of grueling travel, I should safely reach my destination, my husband, and my colleagues. It never occurred to me to consider three simple words: subject to change.

Traveling alone with no time to spare, I made the transfer in Detroit. Amidst 350 other passengers, I boarded this monstrosity of an aircraft, settled in to my seat, and pulled out both my book and my knitting. I felt like a bear going into hibernation. After all, this would be my space for nearly 14 hours. Subject to change, never crossed my mind.

But my hibernation abruptly ended.

After take off—somewhere out over the frozen tundra of the Arctic—the captain’s voice interrupted my reverie with his announcement: Ladies and gentlemen, an onboard medical emergency requires us to turn around and head back to Detroit. Indeed, a passenger on board our flight suffered a stroke and required immediate attention. Yikes.

Then, as our plane landed in Detroit and pulled up to the gate, a bizarre set of circumstances launched what became the theme of my sojourn: subject to change.

The pilots and crew had to be replaced, as did the medical items used onboard. A snowstorm on the east coast confounded the attempts to bring in the required fresh crew members. Then, add to the mayhem the unthinkable: local authorities closed Detroit Metro Airport due to wintery icy conditions, and all planes were indefinitely grounded. Amidst the confusion, my flight was cancelled, as was the flight the following day. “Stranded” took on new meaning as details and dilemmas spiraled, seemingly, out of control. Every minuscule aspect of my life rested under the arc: subject to change.

Despite a 13-hour time difference, Larry and I met for prayer over our mobile phones. Calculating the delays, now compounded by distance and layovers, we arrived at the difficult and disappointing conclusion that it was God’s will for us to cancel my participation in the trip. Thus, after being grounded overnight in Detroit, I would not proceed to Asia, but rather would set about the arduous challenge of returning home to Ohio.

So, the following afternoon, after an increasing number of further delays, I sat at Gate C20 and three simple words worked their way into my psyche: subject to change.

A sea of travelers who shared the same reality (subject to change) waited restlessly. Their various reactions became a study for me. Most were anxious, a few were ambivalent, and some were down right angry. Why, individual even announced aloud: “I hate people!” Unfortunately, I made the mistake of getting in front of him in a line.

So, why does subject to change catch us by surprise? My travel saga provided a fresh opportunity to consider the question. For starters, here are three conclusions:

1. We value control and relish the thought of directing our own destiny.

2. We forget that our default setting is self, and we rise up when our agenda feels snatched from our fingers.

3. We deny the reality that “control is a myth,” (Bill Lawrence), so we get blindsided when our plans unravel.

But think about this; in truth, every aspect of our lives is subject to change.

EXCEPT GOD.

He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

How do you respond when your game is rained out, your child gets sick, or your husband calls to tell you he will be late for dinner?

What happens inside of you when God whispers, “Subject to change”?

“Voyage”

Beth DeVries’ unusual talent sets her artistic creations apart with a rare distinction. The first time I strolled through her exhibition in Denver, I knew God had gifted her beyond measure. So, for Larry’s 60th birthday a few years ago, I commissioned Beth to create a boat on water using the beautiful words from Valley of Vision, Voyage.

By looking closely, you can see how Beth painted the words from the prayer across the billowing sails.

O Lord of the oceans,

My little bark sails on a restless sea,

Grant that Jesus may sit at the helm and steer me safely;

Suffer no adverse currents to divert my heavenward course;

Let not my faith be wrecked amid storms and shoals;

Bring me to harbour with flying pennants, hull unbreached, cargo unspoiled.

I ask great things, expect great things, shall receive great things.

I venture on thee wholly, fully, my wind, sunshine, anchor, defense.

The voyage is long, the waves high, the storms pitiless, but my helm is held steady, thy Word secures safe passage, thy grace wafts me onward, my heaven is guaranteed.

This day will bring me nearer home,

Grant me holy consistency in every transaction, my peace flowing as a running tide, my righteousness as every chasing wave.

Help me to live circumspectly, with skill to convert every care into prayer,

Halo my path with gentleness and love; smooth every asperity of temper;

let me not forget how easy it is to occasion grief; may I strive to bind up every wound, and pour oil on all troubled waters.

May the world this day be happier and better because I live.

Let my mast before me be the Saviour’s cross, and every oncoming wave the fountain in his side.

Help me; protect me in the moving sea until I reach the shore of unceasing praise.

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

What is your favorite line from this prayer? Why do you find it meaningful?

How, perhaps, do the Words of Psalm 107:23-30 relate?

(Note: Contact Bethany at nbethanyann@gmail.com)