Fists white-knuckled on the steering wheel and his stomach in knots, shouted out loud: “I can’t believe this is happening, Lord!!! I can’t be late for this flight - you have to help me make this flight!!!”
Three years of 80+ hour work weeks, negotiations and planning had finally come to fruition. A final interview with the managing partner of the firm (Mr. Jones); his last chance to make partner all depending on this interview in Chicago. He knew Jones was a fanatic on timeliness - if he was late, his last chance was gone. His chance of ever making partner crushed.
He had it all planned out. His flight was booked for last night and he had a room at the hotel right next door to Jones, Freeman and Aguirre. Then it started to unravel; his flight canceled due to snow in Chicago at the last minute - and Flight 316 this morning was the only flight which would get him there on time. And ahead of him, nothing but brake lights!
Finally, traffic broke (thank You, Lord) and he blasted through security and was finally at the gate with just minutes to spare. Gasping, he handed his boarding pass to the gate attendant in the now empty boarding area.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Adams, we just closed the cabin door and no one else can board this flight.”
Paul was frantic, first pleading then angrily he demanded to be allowed to board. The attendance sincerely expressed her empathy but that she was absolutely powerless to grant his demands.
To his dismay, he heard himself scream out, “You stupid ----- and your damn FAA rules have just cost me my career!!!” And he stormed off - leaving the attendant in tears.
“Damn it, Lord! Why did You let this happen? How could You do this to me - I’m ruined and all the plans, hopes and dreams I have invested almost all of my waking hours in the past five years - gone!”
Partly to act out his anger at God and partly to try to reduce his blood pressure, Paul diverted into the nearby sports bar and ordered a beer - and rapidly a second one while staring blankly at the “talking heads” on the screen.
Suddenly, the sports chatter was interrupted by a news bulletin: “Flight 316 to Chicago for unknown reasons crashed shortly after takeoff - killing everyone on board. More at 11:00.”
Paul felt as if he had just been punched in the stomach by Rocky Balboa. He couldn’t breathe and felt like he would pass out. As he started to actually grasp what had happened, he went face down on the bar, weeping uncontrollably and unable to respond to those who came to see what was wrong.
Almost instantly, he collected himself, got up and hurried back to the Gate 316.
The attendant now was also head down, sobbing. She looked up - saw Paul and they didn’t say anything - they just embraced each other - crying tears of both grief, mixed with tears of forgiveness and thankfulness.
<
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge [trust] Him, and He will direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5-6
“For I know the plans I have for you, plans to bless you and not to harm you; to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:1
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment