Many a Gate

They're home now. I took my Canadian relatives to the Columbia airport Thursday afternoon and stood outside security while their bags were checked to make sure they were on their way.

I hate that you can no longer go the the Gates with friends and family. I understand, of course, the security concerns, but I long for the old days of sitting with beloved family until the last possible moment, then tearfully saying goodbye as the Stewardess beckoned to them to board the plane.

When I was in college, I was returning from a trip to the Holy Land with my father and several other family friends. We had a lay-over in Rome. We noticed armed guards, with machine guns, posted very prominently in the airport and wondered what the hulabaloo was all about. Turns out, the President of Italy was coming to the airport by motorcade and the security was for him. The airport was almost empty as most people were clamoring to see the President. We certainly had no interest in seeing him, so we took a long walk to stretch our legs and waste some time. At another gate in the same terminal as us, one of the people in our group spotted Mother Theresa of Calcutta with several of her sisters. She was returning home to India after a private audience with the Pope. The news quickly spread through our group and we took guitars and a large delegation down to her gate. The gates at the airport in Rome were glassed in with security posted at the entrance to each gate. We couldn't get inside to see her, but we stood outside the windows and sang to her, then prayed for her through the glass. She was most appreciative and expressed her gratitude to us, telling us she would pray for us. One elderly woman in our group, who died shortly afterward (Evelyn Galey), somehow managed to stumble, obliviously, past the security guard. We're still not sure how, but believe the Lord blinded him for a few minutes to allow her to pass. She knelt at Mother Theresa's feet and received a blessing from the godly woman. Then Mother Theresa insisted she stand and helped her to her feet, telling her not to kneel before anyone but Our Lord. While we watched and sang, the Boarding Call was made and Mother Theresa prayed over each and every one of her companions. It was amazing watching her go about her daily life with these humble, young sisters. Amazing things happen at airport gates.

Anyway, I saw them off, then drove home alone, thinking over the time I had with Calvin and all the long talks into the wee hours of the morning. He has come to know the Lord since our last visit together and I believe he sees our relationship in a very different light now. I've always felt very close to him, but now we have even more in common.

I can't wait for the next opportunity we have to see each other. I think this brief contact has reminded us all of the importance of family relationships and I believe we're all more committed to working hard to build them amongst the next generation.