Leaving Las Vegas.

What a whirlwind of a weekend that began wonderfully and ended woefully.

My husband and I planned this trip weeks ago, a getaway for just the two of us.  We are housing an intern turned youth minister on our church staff for the past fourteen months, and now we are also helping our oldest son and daughter-in-love with a fresh start on the right foot.  Our once empty nest has been full!  We went on a few vacations in the past few years, but always with people, whether family or friends. Those trips were still fun. They were still memorable. We simply needed some time to simply be with each other.  It was a happy vacation…until Sunday night.

We flew out on Monday morning after the Sunday evening massacre. On the flight home, an older gentleman sat in the seat behind me. He was chatty, and liked to accentuate each word or phrase with a hearty thwack on the back of my seat. This went on for some time, jolting me with each and every whack. When the beverage service came, I asked the flight attendant if she could ask the passenger to quit hitting my seat. She requested a few minutes to figure out how to address the issue without causing an issue, and moved on down the aisle.

And then I had a few more minutes to think about “the issue.”  Did I want to potentially cause an issue?  Was it really that much of a problem?  Was Thumper’s thumping bothering me so badly that embarrassment was necessary?

That is when God used the flight attendant to thump me.

When the attendant returned, I let her know that I was not going to bother with telling him to stop. She asked if I was sure and I let her know I was sure. She replied, “Just let me know if it becomes unbearable and I will take care of it.”

…if it becomes unbearable…

THUMP

Over fifty people lost their lives the night before.

…if it becomes unbearable…

THUMP

Over five hundred people were physically injured the night before.

…if it becomes unbearable…

THUMP

Over six hundred families, friends, and loved ones’ lives were immediately and irreparably changed the night before.

…if it becomes unbearable…

I am certain that any one of them would give anything to put up with a thumper sitting behind them on an airplane instead of going through what they are going through.

THUMP

God, forgive me when I don’t do all things without grumbling or complaining (Philippians 2:14). Forgive me when I don’t love you by loving others (Matthew 22:37-39). Forgive me when my love doesn’t bear all things (1Corinthians 13:7). Forgive me when I fail (1 Corinthians 13:8).

God, comfort all of those affected by the massacre in Las Vegas.