Wade Long, Traveling Man

When I left Cleveland for LA some near five years ago with $11 to my name and a can of change my mother gave me I was certain I'd be back within a few months to visit.  I had this elaborate plan I've mentioned before to take over the world as I knew it. I was going to fly my whole family out that next Christmas, rent out a floor at the Hilton, and have a time we'd never forget! So when I visited home for the very first time this past week, flying coach on my first ever plane ride it was a tad different than the reunion I'd once imagined.

There was the flight, that scared me to the point of a near panic attack. (I'm getting better at handling my time in the airways, by grace.)  An unexpected five hour layover in Dallas proved to be an angering ordeal in and of itself.

My entrance into my Mother's home at midnight was met with her tears, followed by her laughter, followed by what seemed to be her laughing at her own indecision, whether to cry or to laugh. It was a great moment; one which made the discomfort of the trip more than well worth it!

The next few days were filled with catching up with great family and friends, pouring as much as I could into their lives with the limited time that I had. After all, I had been gently warned a few times before leaving LA that this trip to Cleveland was a ministry visit.

Finally came the day I was most there for.

It was Mother's Day.  A day we would celebrate my mom for just being the wonderful her that she is,  along with observing her birthday which was the day after.

I looked at my mother.  Relaxed.  Serene.  My mission was accomplished. I could return to LA now with a clear conscience.

Two days later it was time to come home.  I had held myself completely together until then (on the outside, at least).  Then came the tears.  I cried as I shouted words of encouragement to my mother. Then she cried, and I held her for a moment.  Next, Mom told me to go on so that I didn't miss my flight.

I believe God showed up through the radio on the way to the airport, as every infamous "goodbye" song from every movie ever seemed to come on. Laughter once again caused tears to subside.  I then cried once more as I said my goodbyes to my brother who had dropped me off.

An hour later I boarded my plane, a different man. A changed man. Wade Long, a traveling man.

Wade Long, Flying Man

If I'm a fool its not because I am flying on my fourth airplane ride in the past week. It's because I didn't always trust the God who has promised me protection and victory through and by His Word.

[Picture my present scene as I write.]

I'm somewhere between 35 and 40 thousand feet in the air, experiencing what  feels to be a small amount of turbulence; yet turbulence nonetheless to this rookie flyer. There's a movie on, one which I may indulge in, in just a little bit. The nice flight attendant just offered me "something to drink".  I'm actually taking real sips this time instead of the throat wetters I had taken on the 3 earlier flights. (Im a little bit proud of myself. Not just because of the sips but because I'm actually focused enough to write this darn thing. I pray I stay in this state and that Jesus increases my ability to do so.)
Like it or not I must adjust to flying.  Seeing my family depends on me flying.  The career I've been working on so hard, too.  Ministry does also. 

[I stop for a moment to think of friends who do this flying thing, seemingly without consideration of possible dangers, and neither should I. I marvel at the girl sitting next to me. I don't think she's been awake since we hit the runway, & I'm a little bit envious. Just a little though]

The girl I like flies all the time. I don't want to be the guy who doesn't do a thing out of fear that is perfectly natural to do, and thusly miss out on some good opportunities.

My stomach is more settled than it has been. I charge that to grace/the anti nausea medicine my oldest brother Terry brought me on the trip to Cleveland which began my adventure in aviation (see future blog for details :) /getting used to it... In that order, although if you think of it those last 2 are bi-products of grace.

I have one of my favorite songs (I Will Exalt You by Hillsong) on repeat for like the 7th time now. (No, I'm not joking!) Call me silly but I'm choosing to exalt Jesus high above even 30 thousand some-odd feet!

God has stretched my faith in ways I wouldn't have thought prior. No longer will pitching that tv show idea to a network scare me as it would have before this past week.

In a couple hours I'll land. Happily so. And somewhat melancholy; About the end of this visit, and strange enough, in spite of all the discomfort that was, the place in faith that God has brought to me through flying.