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Topic: Power (05/10/04)
TITLE: GOD'S POWER IS BIG ENOUGH TO COVER LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE By James Snyder 05/10/04 |
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A conference I attended recently just happened to be in Texas, a little southwest of Dallas/Ft. Worth. I had been looking forward to this conference for almost a year and could not wait for it.
This particular conference was in Tampa three weeks after I found out about it. So, to Texas I went.
The problem with going to Texas is, for all practical purposes, I had to fly. There was no way I could take the time to drive that distance. I booked my flight and set my face to go to Texas.
For the most part, I enjoy flying; however, I am bothered about certain aspects of air travel. One thing that troubles me at the airport is the terminology they use so brazenly.
For example; when you get to the airport, one of the first signs you see is the one that says "Terminal." Who in the world came up with that one? Of all the words in the English language, why did someone choose that one?
I would like to see more appropriate and friendly terms employed. Phrases like: "Destination Fantastic," or "Adventure Awe Inspiring." Phrases that inspire and give some anticipation of a return trip.
Regardless of the ominous signs, I always book a two-way ticket. I plan to return.
Through the years, my perspective on traveling has changed. One has to do with my luggage. I never take my luggage with me.
Usually, several days before my departure, I mail my luggage to my hotel. This way I know I will see it again.
The last time I sent my luggage through the airport system was 17 years ago and I have not seen it since. The stories my luggage could tell if only I could locate it. It probably is still traveling the world.
Another problem I have at the airport is the security. Since 9/11, the security at airports has changed. They do a lot more strip-searching than before.
I, however, thought I had it licked. I sent my entire luggage ahead and only carried with me a small briefcase with some important papers and a book to read when in flight.
My daughter and her daughter drove me to the airport to see me off. Just as I embarked, my little granddaughter gave me a piece of chocolate to eat while in flight. She was concerned that I might get hungry in Texas. "Do they have McDonald's in Texas," she inquired.
I gingerly put the chocolate in my pocket and bade them a fare-thee-well. I was off to Texas.
Everything went fine until I came to the security screen. I put my briefcase on the conveyor and then was instructed to step through the screening arch.
Just as I stepped through, the alarm went off. "Step this way, sir," a man in uniform requested.
"Please empty out all your pockets into this tray."
I put everything on my person in that tray and still the alarm went off. "Sir, would you please take off your shoes."
I have no idea what my shoes have to do with anything, but when the requestor has a pistol at his side, the requestee does when he is told. I did.
Then they brought out something resembling a cattle prod. Waving the contraption all around me, the alarm still went off.
I have never been strip-searched before. I must confess I am rather modest in this area of life.
In fact, I am so modest I wear a blindfold when I take a shower. One time I didn't and it scared me so bad I took to my bed for several weeks. Since then, I have adopted the blindfold.
I did not know what to do. I could see the person doing the searching possessed an undeterred resolve to find the origin of the beeping.
Personally, I would have let it go, and had a jolly good laugh about it. But, he was determined to get to the bottom of this infernal beeping.
I had to unbutton my shirt, then unbutton by trousers. Before long, I was down to my unmentionables.
There is nothing more pathetic than a preacher in the buff.
Every time he passed that cattle prodder over me, the buzzer went off. By this time, it looked rather bleak for me and my modesty.
There were so many people looking at me I was tempted to take up an offering.
Finally, the man with the cattle prod said, "I think I found the problem." As it turned out, the tiny piece of chocolate my granddaughter had given me was wrapped in tinfoil and was setting the alarm off.
"Imagine that," the man with the cattle prod said, with a mischievous grin smeared on his map.
The worse thing about being strip-searched is putting your clothes back on the same way they came off. I have never been able to do that, especially with an audience.
In life, the same thing holds true. Usually the little things clog up daily life.
For the most part, people are able to deal with the big events in life but get bogged down with little things.
Even Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived recognized this.
Solomon put it this way, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." (Song of Songs 2:15 KJV.)
Thankfully, God's power is big enough to cover the little things in my life.