On Our Way: From LAX to Hyderabad

Flying is not my favorite. I can't really see how anyone could enjoy being in a tiny space with so many strangers for so many hours. It's safe to say I will never be a flight attendant.

It took two flights for us to get to Hyderabad. The first flight was the longer of the two. I was seated in front of a mom with four children, three boys and one little girl. The little girl was a rambunctious one, and she decided she liked me. Which was cute at first, but three hours into the flight when I wanted to sleep, not so much.

I ended up having a conversation with the mother and she told me that her family was on a pilgrimage, which was costing them $15,000, to participate in an extensive three hour ritual. She explained a lot of details about it, which by now I have mostly forgotten, but what stuck with me was her devotion to her religion. She was willing to spend money, to take a trip that she wasn't expecting to enjoy, because she believed in it's importance.

I couldn't help but to parallel her pilgrimage with my journey. I started questioning my intentions for going on this trip. Could I confidently say my motivations were pure in heart? Was I there because I was suppose to be or just by coincidence? What sacrifice am I making? Any? Were there reasons for me being there and if so why hadn't God been showing them to me yet?

Some ten hours into the flight I gave up on sleep and started reading a book about Mother Teresa. In it she was talking about silent prayers, a concept I am rather unfamiliar with.

"Prayers cannot be switched on and switched off...fullness of attention is not possible, but fullness of attention is. You have to pray the prayer with your heart and mind, it is not enough just to say them. Prayer is from your heart to the heart of Jesus."

I decided to try it out, and I have no idea if I even did it right, but I was overwhelmed with peace which must be a good sign. After a while I got this vivid image of a castle being dropped from these dark clouds on strings like a marionette (my mind is a weird place) as well as John 6:38-39 "For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will of God. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day."

I felt as if it was a sweet commissioning from Jesus. We, I, was being sent to bring the kingdom to India. Not because of my own will but because Christ wanted the Gospel to be preached.

Fannypack Krew.

Those eyemasks.