Airports fascinate me. Not just because of the incredible technology that is invoked each and every day to keep these places in action, but mainly because of the people that transverse the terminals headed quickly (in most cases) from here to there.
As I sat in the San Fransisco airport waiting on a flight home, I found myself with about two hours to kill. Nothing like watching and listening to people in one of the most diverse international transportation hubs in the nation to pass the time. People from all likes, appearances, nations and ages speedily filtered across the mundane walkways of this small airport.
My mind wondered to such thoughts:
- where is he/she headed?
- who do they know?
- wonder what's going on good or bad in their lives right now
- what's it like where they are from?
- what do they believe? Do they know the Lord?
- have they been on America's Most Wanted?
But one thought always sticks me the most - I will never see that person ever again, and have no idea who they are yet God sees knows everything about them and sees them each and every day.
That's what boggles my mind the most. So many people, from so many different parts of our incredible planet, connected to so many things I will never know, and yet that one person walking by me right now represents a life I will never know and never run across again.
Yet God does.
Amazing.
Sometimes I wish I could tap into His "global view" for just 30 seconds; see everyone and instantly know them and their lives in completeness just like I do my wife.
Right before I packed up and jumped on the place back to DFW, I watched a father and his young 3 year old daughter interact a few seats over. They were likely from Europe with strong accents and I over heard him telling her they would be home soon and mommy was waiting.
She wanted some cookies. He wanted her to behave. Perfect scenario. He struck a win-win deal (in his mind!) and she quickly agreed to his naive terms. One cookie, for one quiet airplane ride. Instantly I wondered how cool it would be to tag along as a bug on his jacket and see how his deal worked out. Lord knows they rarely do for me...
But if nothing more, it reminded me that people are people. Regardless of race, looks, age, occupation, or nationality, we all have places to be, people to see and things we love.
And like this man with his little girl, I too couldn't wait to get home.
"Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: "May you prosper greatly" Daniel 6:25
