I’ve flown back and forth from Taiwan so often that I think it’s become something of a routine to me. I probably could pack my belongings, drive to the airport, check-in my bags, pass through security, navigate the terminals, and board the plane all with my eyes closed. Actually…I couldn’t.
Anyways. What I’m saying is that these long international flights (13 hours in the air) just don’t faze me anymore. It used to be that making sure I have the right documents at the check-in counter and passing through security seemed like a big deal. Not anymore. I consider the entire process the equivalent of taking the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) from Berkeley to San Francisco, except much, much more time intensive.
Ease does come with practice. I’ve even gotten better at occupying those 13 hours, so as to minimize the amount of time I’m sitting in my seat bored out of my mind with the unpleasant feeling of cotton mouth from the dry air and dozing off too often. In my recent travels, I’ve found that one thing really helps. Read the ministry and the Bible. Praying over hymns from the hymnal isn’t too shabby either.
On this past particular flight, I was quite cherished by Hymn #676, which goes:
“All they griefs by Him are ordered,
Needful is each one for thee;
All thy tears by Him are counted,
One too much there cannot be;
And if while they fall so quickly
Thou canst own His way is right,
Then each bitter tear of anguish
Precious is in Jesus’ sight.
Far too well they Savior loves thee
To allow thy life to be
One long, calm, unbroken summer-
One unruffled, stormless sea;
He would have thee fondly nestling
Closer to His loving breast,
He would have that day seem brighter
When alone is perfect rest.”