Stranded

Well, all good things must come to an end I am told. And so too this conference ended and I head for the airport, holding so much in my heart. Immediately the world encroaches. The shuttle that drove us to the airport ran out of gas (!) and we were stranded for over an hour until another shuttle could come and rescue us.

I just missed the early flight to Midway, the one I was hoping I could bump up into. And the flight I was booked on was, yes delayed due to bad weather. Rain is apparently more difficult for planes to deal with than snow. Hours creep by, and the window of opportunity for making my connecting flight in Chicago dwindles. I try not to be anxious. God is with me. He will take care of my needs. So I rest and refuse to fuss.

At long long last we are airborn, but we do not make good time. We must fly far from the designated path to avoid the storm. It will be close. I will have only minutes to dash to the right gate. People around me assure me that they will hold the plane. I am skeptical. We taxi forever trying to get to the gate, but other planes are in the way. Time for my connecting flight comes and goes. I am still on the plane even if I am on the ground.

I am in the very first row and first off the plane when at last we reach the gate. I run to the gate for the connecting flight. The plane has just left the gate. They call to see if they can still get me on. No. Two minutes would have made the difference. Two minutes. The woman at the counter gets me on the first available flight out tomorrow, but the two morning ones are completely booked and I will not be able to leave until nearly noon.

I glance around the airport. It is crowded and noisy. The woman at the counter pushes a flier into my hand and tells me to call the 800 number and see if there are any rooms left for the night. People's flights have been cancelled all day. I step to one side. My hands shake as I punch the numbers. There are only 2 rooms available. $160 for one night. I cannot believe my voice, I take the room and run for the free shuttle.

It is raining so hard that there are standing pools of water in the streets and police cars block off driveways where the water is too deep to allow safe passage. I finally get to the hotel, and the front desk is turning people away. They rush my reservation along and get me out of the lobby as quickly as they can. In the elevator I check to see if I still have everything. I do.

The room is nice and comfortable, but half the lights are out due to the storm. The TV is also out. I shower, then retire, grateful, grateful, grateful that God got me safely into this room while half the world is sleeping in the uncomfortable Midway airport. I do not care that I didn't get dinner. I have a few things in my carryon (thank God) and that suffices.

I fall asleep almost as soon as my head hits the pillow and sleep soundly most of the night despite sirens and flashing lights and all kinds of troubles unfolding outside. In the morning, I know God will be with me. I do not worry. All will be well.