The Blazing Center

An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered. – G.K. Chesterton

Stephen and I had traveled for 7-1/2 hours to get to Louisville. After a 2-hour drive to the Pittsburgh Airport, then flying to Cincinnati, then to Louisville, we arrive in our hotel at 3 pm, looking forward to the Together for the Gospel conference. I’m excited to be here – I’ll be hanging out with my both of my sons (my son David will be here too), seeing old friends and meeting new ones, and hearing great messages from the likes of John Piper, R.C. Sproul, C.J. Mahaney, John MacArthur and others.

The first evening, an “in house” meeting for Sovereign Grace Ministries pastors and guests is going to be exciting, for we’ll get to hear about wonderful things God is doing in the ministry, as well as how God is directing the guys who lead us for the future.

Before the session I get a call from home – something has unexpectedly come up with my family that may require me to return the next day. The next morning after the second Sovereign Grace session I call home. I need to return. My outstanding secretary gets me on a flight and at 2:20 that afternoon I’m gazing out the window of the plane as we taxi down the runway to take off for Cincinnati. I’ll get home around 9 p.m.

I’m a little disappointed to have to leave the conference, but my family needs me, and that’s more important. I’m not looking forward to a second day of flying and driving, but God gives me grace to praise him and thank him. At least I got to have a great meal last night with Stephen and my friend Bo. And I got to go to the Sovereign Grace meetings – praise God for that. It’s not so bad. I could have had to turn around as soon as I landed in Louisville the day before. And I did get to have a great pulled pork sandwich in the Louisville airport before taking off. This is just a minor inconvenience, designed by God somehow for my good.

I board the small packed plane to Pittsburgh in Cincinnati, and inch up the crowded aisle toward seat 8b and see a young man in the seat next to mine. We begin to chat, and at 30,000 feet the Lord gives me the opportunity to explain Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to him. I’m able to share some of my testimony and tell him a little about how wonderful, delightful and powerful Jesus is.

An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.

Who knows, maybe someday I’ll see this young man in heaven. Maybe the main reason God had me fly to Louisville and then back the next day was to share the gospel with one person. It would certainly be worth it if the Lord used my minor inconvenience to save this man. If only I could always remember that every inconvenience is God’s providence.

Maybe today you’ll encounter an inconvenience. Praise God for it. It may be an adventure in disguise.