Grandson Houston Parker - just because it was sent to me today
Yesterday in Nashville was full of meeting new people, friends of friends. Reminds me a little saying some of us have, “If you like someone you give them your time and money, but if you love them, you give them your friends.” Some of the most significant people in my life have been given to me by friends.
Turns out that the hotel, the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, is the largest hotel in the world that doesn’t have a casino. I can attest that it is huge, having lost my way in its maze of hallways and atriums more than once. In the evening about sixty men met to talk about life and relationships. Where can you get Dan Polk, Paul Colman and Matt Wertz in the same room signing John Denver’s ‘Country Roads’.
After I finally found my way back to my room I crashed for the night, but not before packing to leave the next morning. Breakfast at 8AM and then I spoke about the relational nature of God, the significance of the Trinity and why our understanding of the character and nature of God changes how we live. Then it was on to the airport to catch my Delta flight to Dallas via Memphis arriving at Love airfield about 4:20 PM.
Did I mention that I woke this morning to torrential downpours and rock and roll thunder? Chase gave me a lift to the airport and on the way I took a call from one of my daughters. She was a little distraught about having forgotten something that changed the course of her day. I encouraged her not to give it a second thought, that God has a way of creating purpose even or especially out of the choices and mistakes we make. I told her, “When something unusual or unexpected happens begin to look for the adventure.” Then they cancelled my flight.
I am standing at the counter when I look up and see that out of about a hundred flights on the board, two have been cancelled and one of those is mine. I have to grin as I tell myself, “When something unusual or unexpected happens begin to look for the adventure.” Don’t you love it when you have to eat your own words?
The wonderfully helpful clerk sets me up on an American Airlines flight and I head down to their desk. Another clerk checks my baggage. Turns out that the American flight is direct, they have to put me in first class and I will get to Dallas two hours earlier than the original flight. Trust me, this is not what normally happens. As I am boarding, one of the gate agents comes flying down the corridor. “Did you really write The Shack?” She gave me a hug and asked me a question about how the book started. I told them it was my wife’s, Kim’s, fault and explained. Another woman boarding in front of me stopped to watch this unusual interchange and then after we settled into our seats she asked for all the info on the book and promised to read it right away.
We landed at DFW (instead of Love Field) and I get quotes from three rental car agencies until I get a rate that is acceptable and headed to the hotel (no hotel score yet since I just got here). It is a Hilton and the room is comfortable. Tomorrow is going to be very busy. I speak four times and am part of lunch and dinner meetings and at least one book signing. I will try to blog tomorrow night.