What a day - 08/08/08. I hear that tons of people are getting married today and doing all kinds of special and crazy things to commemorate the special occasion. I'm happy just to enjoy a normal quiet day at home after what feels like it has been a "plane crazy" couple of months!

Don't get me wrong - I always enjoy my time at various churches and events. Whenever I am ministering through worship or speaking, I truly sense God's grace in the midst, and come home feeling joy-filled and blessed for having been a part of it...but let's just say airport lines, airport food, plane delays, bad weather, grumpy flight attendants, cranky kids kicking my seat when all I want to do it sleep, packing multiple suitcases, sleeping in strange beds, lack of sleep, jet lag, and lugging heavy gear around are just some of the parts I endure for the sake of the rest. :)

As life's pace keeps trucking along, the moments of stillness stand out even more magnified to me now - and I treasure them greatly!

Atlanta airport is a monster of a place. It is always packed full of people, and I find it one of the most stressful places on the planet...usually dreading the whole experience each time I fly in and out. I always try to approach it with a good attitude, but boy does it test me each and every time! :)

On my last leg home from Chicago this week my flight was delayed multiple times. At one point we had waited at the gate for weather to pass, but then had to evacuate the plane due to tornados that were roaring through the area (my parents were watching this at home on TV and prayed hard!). Then after re-boarding again, tons of planes were held on the ground so long there was a HUGE line for take-off, and we waited in line so long that we later had to go back to the gate and re-fuel so that didn't run out of gas. After the whole ordeal, we finally got to Atlanta at 3am. Then the silly "train" wasn't working. We had to walk from one of the farthest terminals - almost a mile to baggage claim - after what had already been a very long and tiring trip. I'm telling you - one mile feels like TEN when it's 3am! But I'm getting side-tracked; back to the point...

I usually drive myself to the airport and park, taking a shuttle to the terminal. So I do the opposite when I return home, getting my luggage and guitar from baggage claim, and taking the shuttle back to my car. And do you know what one of my absolute favorite parts of the trip is???? The moment I step out of the shuttle and that bus drives away...I'm left standing in the middle of a huge parking lot all by myself and hear.............TOTAL SILENCE. It's amazing!

After all the noise of the weekend, all the security lines, beeping go-carts, boarding announcements, plane engines, shuttle buses, people arguing, and kids crying (I want to cry sometimes too!)....that first moment of SILENCE is this amazingly beautiful thing that I treasure every time I return home! I usually stand there and savor it, thank the Lord for it, glory in the wonder of God's amazing gift of SILENCE.

Unfortunately the silence only lasts a moment, and then a huge plane goes overhead and ruins it. LOL. But then I pile my stuff in the car, enjoy a nice quiet ride home, and can't wait to hug my hubbie. And then THAT's my favorite part. Then I love petting my cats who act all cool and like they didn't miss me for a few hours, and then come to cuddle with me later - like they've missed me desperately. Actually before I left on my last trip I had a hard time getting them off my suitcase so I could close it up and get to the airport. Maybe they're trying to tell me something?

Okay, so this is probably a deeper "Sheri experience" than you were looking for - to hear stories about my cats - but hey....the point is this: Have you taken time lately to find some silence, stillness, and peace in YOUR "plane crazy" life? Trust me, I know it's not easy. I love this verse in Psalm 46 - which is even MORE appropriate with all the election talk these days (from The Message version):

"Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God...above politics, above everything."

I know that as our lives get busier and busier that we have to be even more intentional to find and savor the moments of silence, where we can "Be still and know that He is God!"

May He help us "step out of the traffic" today - and every day - to spend time in His presence and find rest for our souls.