My Traveling Nightmare: Finding Comfort in a World of Woe—Psalm 91

Who thought a road trip was a good idea anyway?  

After a 10-day visit from the kids, home was calling. I volunteered to ride back to Colorado with them to help curb the chaos of travel with a newborn, a preschooler, and a dog.

We had two needs in booking a return vehicle— big and cheap. Amazingly, there was a large vehicle even cheaper than a not-near-big-enough standard car—the 1990’s favorite soccer mom ride—a minivan. We all had a laugh at the “uncool ride” waiting for us at the rental lot. But when we slid the door open and realized you could easily haul a couple ponies and a goat or two inside, we all repented.

Within the first few hours, the preschooler said, “My belly hurts,” and proceeded to throw up all over himself. Lesson learned—no iPad games on winding roads. At the next stop, the dog dashed out of his floorboard dungeon and had to be chased down in 100-degree heat. But when the baby had a crying jag that frayed the last nerves, I may or may not have heard muttering from the front seat. “We are never doing this again.” 

And did I mention the dog hair…?

But in truth, the dog was the best passenger—no whining, griping or crying. And those expressions may not have been emitted from the babies only. Just sayin…

After returning the now-beloved minivan, my only way home a few days later was by flight. The security section remained relatively empty, and the concourse bustled with mask complying passengers. But for some reason, people forget social distancing when boarding. I would have gladly looked foolish if I could have secured one of those swimming pool noodle hats to ward encroachers off.

Strategizing, I nabbed the window seat on the last row so no-one could breathe, sneeze or cough on me. Successfully ensconced, I enjoyed a brief chat with an extroverted young businessman, then retreated into my laptop. 

Denver is known as one of the roughest airports for ascent and descent. The turbulence caused by mountain waves means air accelerates and sinks—filled with bumps and eddies as it goes over the mountains. “Think about a boat in an intense sea. Waves up and down,” said Kurt Huerta, a Denver-based pilot for SkyWest Airlines. (The Denver Post April 27, 2019)

So I dive into my book or laptop, partly to get a jumpstart on my reading/work, and partly to divert my mind from the take-off. I never look out the window during the first harrowing minutes. And I admit to a bit of white-knuckling during this bumpiest of ascents. 

But I cannot focus on my tasks of distraction because of the sounds coming from the seat in front of me. The woman, clearly panicked, curses loudly, and then I hear it—the rattle of the bag and the coughs. Ugh! 

Later, deep in my reading, I hear it again—the rattle of the bag and a series of coughs, not in front of me but coming from my seatmate. I curl up tightly to the window and wish I could crawl onto a cloud.  And then not one bag but two are used. Eeeew!

As we land, I venture a glance over to the businessman and notice the sweat on his brow. He murmurs, “I am so sorry I should have warned you, I have terrible motion sickness.” 

So I repent for cursing the road trip. I’ll take a crying baby, a plethora of dog hair, and the vomiting of a preschooler I love— any day over a plane ride surrounded by upchucking strangers.

How do you behave in a situation you did not desire or deserve? In this time of unwanted changes in a hurting world, do we respond with love and compassion, or a grumpy demeanor and hurtful words slung careless? 

But when we gaze on our land—plagued with a sickness of actions, sickness of mind and sickness of our physical bodies, we can trust in the response of our loving God who will road-trip with us through life’s ills. He never promised a smooth drive, but he does offer hope and a promise to ride shotgun with us every mile of the way.

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him. And show him my salvation.”

Psalm 91:14-16