Airport Opportunites

It’s amazing how God works the smallest things to be an amazing blessing. I've been learning that through this 100 day challenged, although I haven't been blogging about it. :P

I recently had a trip planned to Salt Lake City and it was quite the adventure! I got to my local airport at 4am to try to get on the first flight. I always fly standby which means I have to wait until there is a flight with an empty seat. So, I got there at 4am for the 5am flight. It was oversold, as was the 7am, 9am, and 11am flights. As each flight passed, my spirits got lower, and the other people on the standby list gradually gave up. Finally I was the first on the list and the 1pm flight came and I got the very last seat on the plane!

I made it to Minneapolis and arrived in a B gate. I knew I missed all the early flights to Salt Lake City, so I went to the G gate (on the opposite side of the airport) for the 5pm flight. I didn’t get the flight. I then made the quick decision to fly to my sister’s for the night, even though it cost me even more. This meant that I had to walk to the C terminal (back to the opposite side of the airport) to get to that gate.

I was almost to my gate when I stopped at a coffee shop for a treat.  The barista and I started to chat about my day and the flights. Eventually, he asked me if I have any kids! Dependent on the situation, I have two answers: “No.” or “two in heaven.”  I chose the latter option. You could see the realization of what I meant crossing his face.

What was amazing is how my one answer spurred an hour long conversation about God, religion, philosophy, and the gifts that God gives us. It was such a blessing for me to have that conversation and see how God is using the small circumstances to make a difference in someone’s day. If I had gotten on any of the earlier flights to Minneapolis, I would not have been there in that place and time and had such a great talk. And God is using the trials in my past in order to bring Himself into my conversations.

I know God had me there to talk to this guy specifically because as soon as we stopped talking, they changed my C gate back to a G gate!! So I had the pleasure of walking the length of the airport twice in one day.

I am just so thankful that God is planning my steps and giving me opportunities to be a blessing to others.