The flight to Riga did not begin uneventful. I wondered yesterday morning when I was hearing reports about bad weather that would be moving into the Chicago area. I had my bags packed and ready to go Monday evening and was pretty much on target. I was dropped off at the airport at 2:30, anticipating a 4:30 flight to Chicago. While checking in, the agent looked at me and said, "You won't be leaving at 4:30, but more like 6:30." "Okay," I thought. "What's a couple of extra hours?" Try six! Six hours later I was finally on my way to Chicago!
Bob Adams and I had been texting, comparing the times we thought we might be leaving. His predicament looked worse than mine in that he texted saying that he would not get out of New Orleans until almost 9:00. I landed in Chicago with little more than an hour to get clear across Chicago O'Hare in order to catch my international flight to Copenhagen. I prayed that Bob might just get in a little early and make the flight. I managed to take the train/shuttle from one concourse to another and managed to make it to my seat on the plane with a few minutes to spare. Bob, on the other hand, didn't make it. I kept saying, "Lord, it wasn't supposed to happen like this." But, just as Bob had reminded me--He had known and was not surprised.
The SAS flight to Copenhagen was one of the best crossings of the "pond" I've had in a long time--mainly, because I slept! That rarely happens. But, for whatever reason, the plane was practically empty and there was lots of space to stretch out and get comfortable, which is usually not the case. I arrived in Copenhagen on time with time for mishaps, if they were going to happen before my next flight. They didn't.
On the Air Baltic flight over the Baltic Sea, the sky was clear and the sea below looked calm. Through the haze in the distance I could see the coastline of my beloved Latvia and felt a chill fun up and down my back. I never get tired of returning and the excitement runs through me with the floodgates of memories opening wide as I approach her shores. I love this place and these people! One of the first joys is being on the last leg of the journey and hearing the familiar Latvian language ring in my ears as I hear others conversing and as I hear announcements made by flight attendants and the pilots. It's always a feeling of satisfaction in knowing that I still understand a great deal of what's said.
Well, to top it all off, I got off the plane in Riga only to discover that my luggage had not arrived. It must not have made the transfer in Chicago. Fortunately, I brought enough to get me by for a couple of days. This has happened before. So, we'll take the next steps in faith as we start our time here in Latvia. This is God's journey. He's in charge. Bob is to be here by 5:30 tomorrow and we'll start this all over again. Pray for his safe arrival. Pray that all of our luggage arrives as well. Pray that we will begin this trip heeding the reminder that God is in control and we're to trust Him. Maybe He intended this all the time so that we would never get the sense that we were making something happen and feel satisfied in and of ourselves. He reminds us that belong to Him and we walk in trust of who He is in His plans and purposes--making Him known.
So, under the great influence of jet lag, I say, "Good night!"
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