I love watching people at airports.  Very few seem to be happy.  They are headed somewhere, but are tired, frustrated with the waiting, not wanting to go where they are headed, afraid, . . . even lost.  Yes, there are the handful that are probably heading to see a close friend, take a vacation, or some other occasion that they are looking forward to with anticipation.  They stand out.  Their joy and enthusiasm seem misplaced in surroundings that are hurried and endured rather than embraced. 

I seem to be strange among fliers.  I love extended layovers between flights.  If I can, I always try to schedule at least a two hour layover when I have to change planes during a trip.  It gives me time to relax and enjoy the journey.  It gives me time to watch and pray for people.  It gives me time to walk.  It gives me time to smile.

One of my favorite places to watch people in an airport is in the security screening line.  It doesn’t seem to matter how often and how clearly the “rules” are posted regarding what is allowed and what isn’t – there is always a steady stream of people trying to pass through the line with things that are not allowed.  Some are unaware that the items they are carrying are in the “do not pack” list.  Some have items that they didn’t know were in their bag.  Some think the rules shouldn’t apply to them and their items.  Some simply think that they are dumb rules so they attempt to ignore them.  During my most recent flight, I watched a lady argue extensively with a security agent over a 4 ounce bottle of hand lotion.  The limit is a 3 ounce container.  As the argument went on and on – and the security agent called for his supervisor – I wondered, “is 4 ounces of hand lotion worth missing your destination?“. 

It made me think.  As I travel through life, do I willingly give up the things that can’t be taken with me?  What do I do when God says, “That thing does not belong in your life if you want to continue this journey to your destination with me.”?  What things have slipped into my life unaware that God is saying can’t be taken along?  What is in the “baggage” of my life that I don’t even know is there? What am I holding onto with such value that I try to sneak it through life?  God is so much better at detecting “contraband” than any airport security screening equipment and personnel.  It would be a wise and prudent move to listen to His instructions on a daily, and moment by moment, basis.

I don’t know about you, but for me, reaching the destination is always more important than the things that I take or don’t take with me.