Last May, Carah and I had an incredible opportunity to travel to Europe on a trip to Rome, Corinth, and Ephesus. This trip started on Sunday, Mother’s Day. When we booked our flight, it would leave SFO at 11 p.m. This was perfect for me. I could preach, go home and pack, go into Burlingame, enjoy a nice dinner before boarding, and avoid plane food!
My one-year plans were coming together nicely, and they even included reservations at an Italian restaurant to start this fantastic vacation. After one year of planning, two weeks before we were going to leave, I got an email that showed our flight into Rome was now direct. At this point, I am praising the name of Jesus because I am not a fan of connecting flights. There are always opportunities for delay, and I don’t particularly appreciate waiting.
As always, with my ADHD, I see the big details and miss the small details. Our friends called and said our flight leaves earlier. I was so excited to fly direct that I never looked at the departure time. Our departure time was originally 11 p.m., and now it is 4 p.m. At first glance, it’s no big deal! But it was.
On international flights, the airlines want you at the airport three hours before the flight, so 1 p.m. Then we have a 2.5-hour drive into SFO, find long-term parking, and ride a bus into the airport. Another 30 minutes are needed. Did I mention that I was preaching that Sunday? My joy of a direct flight turned into sheer panic.
The story ended great. Dan Pinnell closed my sermon, and we escaped the music room door; I shaved 15 minutes off the drive and parking, and the bus ride only took 10 minutes. Nobody was in line at the counter to check luggage, and security was nearly empty. We got to the gate with over 2 hours to wait in chairs.
Have I mentioned that I am ADHD and I loathe waiting? Waiting was a significant theme of this trip. We waited at the airport, in Rome, for Uber, and in four different lines to see the Coliseum. I could go on for four more paragraphs about all the waiting we did on this incredible trip to see the places we saw, but you get the picture I am trying to write today.
I am not a “patient waiter.” In my sermon prep in 1 John this week, I saw something crushing. I need to wait on the Lord. What does this mean to me? My impatience is not rooted in my ADHD but in my fallen, sinful self. So this means I need to look this beast in the eye and deny it just as I would my lust or temper. This week, we will only look at six verses out of 1 John 2, but I promise John is unpacking some profound ideas. I am excited to share these impactful scriptures with you this Sunday at 9:30.
In Him,
Pastor Chris