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Sleep Turmoil on Flight FI602: Rivers
of Faith, Part 22: Distracting Deceptions
Our night flight left at 9:30 our time, or 21:30, as they say in
Europe, and landed in Keflavik, Iceland at 6:30 in the morning. Just
perfect for a good night's sleep! Only problem was, the flight was
only 4 hours and 50 minutes long! The time change ate up the rest of
available hours for sleep! Needless to say, once we were comfortably
established on the aircraft, my first priority was to sleep. I
plugged my ears with what was supposed to cut down on noise, and
tried to wiggle myself into an as comfortable of a position as
possible.
With my eyelids closed, I became aware of the two toddlers behind
me, enthusiastically babbling non-stop. They were so excited that
they kept kicking the back of my seat, to the point that I was sure
they saw it as a giant, upright drum!
Their mother was no better. She was constantly standing up and
sitting down. Didn't she know this was in an airplane and not some
kind of exercise room?
Needless to say, there was no way I could fall asleep. These
distractions completely prevented me from attaining my goal!
I removed my earplugs and replaced them with my I-Pod earphones.
Listening to Christian music did not help however, as competition
was fierce between my music and the two haunting toddlers behind me.
I switched to soft instrumental music and attempted to pass my time
in prayer. Amazing! After just two uplifting songs, coupled with the
time with my Maker, frustration left me completely. Instead I was
filled with hilarious laughter whenever I thought about those two
kids behind me. Even the pilot's announcement over the P.A. system
made me giggle.
Then, to the dismay of my wife, who was also unsuccessfully trying
to sleep in the seat between me and the window seat, I saw the view
from the plane window. A gorgeous sunrise was in the making, and
naturally, I couldn't help but take some pictures. Delighted, I
closed my eyes and fell asleep with a smile on my lips, unaware of
the distractions that were going on behind me.
So often we let distractions keep us from attaining our goal! In
fact, many of these interferences hamper us so much, that too often
we forget our original purpose.
Martha is a great example:
"Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.
She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has
left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" (Luke 10:40
NIV)
Here is a woman who was preparing to feed the guest who was already
in her home. Why were the preparations not done beforehand? Were
these preparations really so much more important than the guest
himself?
Too often we fall into the same trap. Our to-do lists and our stress
levels keep us so busy that we more often than not forget the
essentials in life.
Jesus has some great tips for us: "'Martha, Martha,' the Lord
answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but only one
thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be
taken away from her.'" (Luke 10:41-42 NIV)
In other words these distractions are keeping us from the essential.
"Only one thing is needed!" What is possibly the most essential
"thing" in life? Mary discovered it! And hopefully we, too, will
eventually discover that the most important thing in life is to
spend time with the host: Jesus Christ Himself.
Distractions will not matter any longer once we discover our host,
the One who stands knocking at our heart's door (See Rev 3:20). We
will be filled with hilarious laughter, as well as inner peace.
Worrying will become a "thing" of the past. Imagine, we are spending
quality time with the One who not only created us, but redeemed us
through his own blood! Wouldn't that fill anyone with adrenaline!
But such a relationship requires faith, faith that Jesus is truly
our only essential in life. "Only one thing is needed!"
We need faith that these distractions are not our priority in life;
we need faith that the One we are spending time with will take care
of our needs!
"Didn't you hear all that banging and chattering going on behind
you?"
"What banging and chattering?"
Rob Chaffart |
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