Devotion 314 - INVISIBLE

Rare do my mornings start out so splendid.

As we drove to the airport I sipped hot tea, steeped and poured by my husband’s loving hand.

It was early, way early.

The alarm had gone off at 3am.  The children had remained fast asleep.

My dad arrived promptly at 4 and we were off.  

Brian driving me to the airport, me and my tea waking and wondering what the day would hold.  Lots of meetings would squeeze into the next twelve hours and then I would board the flight home.  

We kissed goodbye and I lined up in security.  I smiled at the agent and he waved me into a line of just three people.  At least one hundred people stood in the line next to me.  

I remember thinking this could be really good, or really bad.  It actually was great.  I was directed to the line where one does not remove shoes or coats or even laptops.  I decided right then, hot tea and now the special no fuss line, this would be a miraculous day. 

I purchased another cup of tea as I couldn't bring my home brew with me, even in the “special line” and waited for my flight.  I noticed my seat number was a single digit, I would get on early, unpack my book, read and perhaps rest before the business day began.  

I had already determined I wouldn't be working on the flight.  I needed to pray.   I needed to collect my thoughts.  I would be invisible.  I was delighted.

I walked onto the plane, even from the front I somehow knew she was in my seat.  She sat perched as if a wind would cause her to fall forward off the edge.  I could tell she was a bit nervous as well.  Perhaps she had just misread her ticket.  No,  her posture said otherwise.  Her posture said she had stolen my seat.  

But then I remembered my tea and my friend who put me in the no fuss line.  I figured I could be invisible in any seat, so I forged on.  I sat my bag in the one empty seat remaining and then the thief asked if I had the window seat.

I noticed the man next to her now; he sat quietly, headphones on.  There was one of two scenarios.  He too wanted to be invisible or he was married to the thief and didn't want to admit it.

She explained she would much prefer the window seat.  She seemed to have more to her story but I quickly held up my hand and pointed to the aisle seat.  

I queried if the aisle seat was hers.  When she shook her head yes, I told her all was well and I would be glad to change seats.  Invisible people don't like long explanations.  

The early morning was already catching up, my tea was almost finished and my book and my eyelids were hastening me to sit.  I grabbed my bag to launch it in the storage above and noticed the thief’s large coat on the floor.  Surely she knew it couldn't stay there, but perhaps she didn’t. 

But then it happened.  I was going to offer to store her coat, but then it moved and its big gallon size head looked at me.

In my 4 am frame of mind, I said that most intelligent thing I could think of. 

“Is that your dog?”

The seat thief quickly nodded and I understood; the dog was too big to lay by the aisle.   

I mentally said she was too big to be on the 737 too, but then as her head continued to rise to greet me I read her vest, “Service Dog.”  I took a quick glance at the thief although now she didn't seem such a criminal.  She was not blind.  No, of the two of us, it appeared I was the one who could not see. 

I asked where they were headed.  “Mexico!” she smiled.

She went on to tell me she would be visiting a dear friend who had suffered a terrible stroke.  She had not bought her return ticket.  She wanted to be there for her friend.  I didn’t understand her disability, all I could see was her ability to rise above it and be there for a friend.

I was so glad I had chosen to ask and decided not to be invisible. 

My reading would wait, my rest as well.  For two hours I heard how her doctor had decided for her to continue to live, to care for herself and to travel, a companion was necessary.

I learned how for three weeks she and Sally the dog had lived together at the training school to develop every possible skill as two instead of one.  She told me of their early challenges.  She pulled me in close and whispered that Sally wasn't the prettiest dog at school, nor was she the smartest. She didn't want Sally to hear those details.   But after three weeks and learning her life and independence was now in the paws of this “ugly” dog; this devoted cat person had fallen in love.

Her stories were extraordinary, the challenges amazing.

Something seemingly so simple had given her life back.  She needed a companion, don't we all?

Strange how my mornings delight was invested in being invisible, in slipping into my seat and hiding behind a book.  Amazing how our Savior takes the mirror of life to reflect the sin of selfishness.

It was now just moments before we landed, my new friend asked about the book now forgotten in my hand.  I told her how much I was enjoying it.  “It is about living in the moment,” I said, “about realizing every minute and situation is orchestrated by the Lord.  That nothing happens by accident.”

I said those words and then I swallowed them.  I thought about my morning, my blissful sleeping children, my hot cup of tea and the clear skies for a January flight.  My no fuss check-in and now a lesson that had stolen my window seat.

Invisible. 

I was not, you are not, nor are we ever. 

He always sees, even when we do not.  

He always speaks even when we are not listening.  

He always hears, even when we choose only to breathe.  

He is always there even when we choose to be invisible.

Strange how I feel my need for Him causes His appearance, when it is His love for me, for us that causes His constant presence.

He takes ordinary and creates extraordinary.  And He takes our natural vision and gives us supernatural sight.

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.

 Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.  Psalm 139:1-6