Day One: International Flight

As I always do, I began this flight with a prayer. I don’t know if it was because I didn’t get very much sleep last night or if my mind was only partially present to the act of prayer, but I realized part way through that I was praying that old prayer from St. Polycarp – the one we pray before meals.

I had to smile a little. How appropriate.

Bless us, Oh LORD, and these Thy gifts which we are about to receive…

And that is when it hit me. What an appropriate prayer, for this is indeed a gift! Soon, I will step off this plane and walk on holy ground. Soon, I will see the places I have read about and remember anew the stories – of Elijah on Mount Carmel.

…stories of King David, the youngest child in a family of brothers, all of whom were passed over when the LORD called a young lad to the throne of Israel.

Yes. David and Goliath. And a little sling. Five stones. And a sure aim.

And before that… the Bethlehem of Ruth and Naomi – and a land owner named Boaz who loved a foreign-born woman, perhaps because his own mother had been from Jericho. Her name? Rahab.

And other stories fill my heart today – tonight – whatever it is right now – day, night, morning. I am entering that fog of flight that makes day and night flow into one another.

Like an Old Covenant flowing into a New Covenant.

A City of David – something old. And an everlasting King – something new.

Elijah and a prophet named John. Again, something old. Something new.

Abraham’s sacrifice and a Father who prepared the perfect Sacrifice. Old. New.

Bless me, Oh LORD, and these Thy gifts which I am about to receive from they bounty, through Christ Our Lord.

Could there be a better prayer for this trip?

Help me to receive these gifts and do what we are all meant to do.

To share them. After they have touched me and renewed me – help me to share them.