Finding Connection in the Chaos

Stormy weather had hijacked earlier flights at Chicago O’Hare, and now our boarding process was in slow motion. We were all in slow motion – except those two boys up ahead. They orbited their tired mom like two electrons discovering electricity. Farther up someone else was yelling. No one cared. As long as this flight actually gets out. What’s taking so long? 

Something changed, a movement near my left eye. I turned my head. It was the big guy with the ponytail. He was making random hand motions, with a big grin on his face. I looked up ahead, to the right.   

Not random after all. The two electrons had stopped orbiting. They now beamed with delight. One of them moved his arm. The man moved his in response. Then again. Back and forth. Instigation and imitation. Part sign language. Part dance. Part game.  Innocent joy and human connection.   

It went on for a while.   

A dance of delight.   

I’ve spent a lot of time in airports, enough to put me in the top 1% of air travelers.

And I think an airport is a good metaphor for our lives – especially our work lives. 

• Mission focused.  

• Busy.  

• Crowded. 

• A lot going on, but I really only care about my part in it.  

• Unexpected delays and interruptions. Well, unexpected in the moment, yet quite common when we think about it

And, if we’re pressed enough for time, we may or may not eat anything as we rush through.   

We weren’t made for that.   

We WERE made for work.

But also for delight, connection, and true rest, as Dan Allender envisions. 

 Click here to listen to more on breaking away from our airport lives.