The Luggage went WHERE?

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Phillipians 4:11b (NIV)

At the end of a very successful business flight last week, I landed safely at the Baltimore Washington airport, but my bag seemed to have taken a detour. I stood at the baggage carousel, watching the same bags go around and around, but mine wasn't among them. As time went on and the crowd thinned, I noticed I wasn't alone. From the looks of it, nearly 20 people from my flight were still anxiously watching the carousel in the hopes their bags would somehow arrive.

During this time, all I could think of was "Lord, I thank you for a safe flight. Sure, my baggage may have gone AWOL. But I thank God I made it!"

As it became apparent our baggage wasn't going to arrive, we lined up at the baggage claim door. I heard the airline employee checking the tickets of all the people in front of me, and saying "Newark" over and over again. For whatever reason, nearly everyone's bags had somehow been rerouted to Newark NJ, and with the snowfall and the holiday hubbub, the airline employee guessed it would be at least a day before their errant luggage would arrive back at BWI.

The people around me were NOT pleased. They were griping and grumbling, some quite loudly. They were being inconvenienced, and weren't afraid to let everyone within earshot know how irritated they were. But I wasn't buying into their negative attitudes. I was in the exact same circumstances they were, but I was thanking God for a safe flight home. My situation seemed identical to theirs; but I was very thankful my ATTITUDE was not.

When my turn at the counter arrived, I stepped up and greeted the woman cheerfully. She nervously took my ticket, thinking she would have to give me the same bad news she'd given to all the people in front of me in line. But when she checked my baggage claim number in the computer, her face brightened noticeably. She handed me back my ticket and said "your bag is on the flight touching down right now". Well thank you for unexpected benefits, Lord!

Though I experienced some quite unexpected favor from God for my baggage, I wish to point out that when all is going crazy around us, we can either join the people who complain, or we can bring peace to the situation. The choice is entirely ours.

But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.

Psalm 31:3

God is indeed the lifter of my head. I give God the praise and thanks for everything, so the good and the bad are all His to manage.

Lord, thank you for offering us your peace, regardless what the circumstances look like. You are the lifter of our heads, and we turn our situations over to you, so that you can get the glory out of our lives. You're in charge, Lord. Instead of grumbling and complaining of what we believe inconveniences US, we choose to give thanks for it all, Lord. Thanks for it all.

Amen

-
© 2008 Scotty Ward