Articles . Michael Catt . Volume 09 | Issue 03

Thoughts Along the Way

I’m traveling a lot during 2009. Already, I’ve been to Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri, mostly speaking to pastors and seminary students. Plus, I’ve been to Oklahoma to speak at the Heartland Bible Conference at FBC Edmond, then returned to Tennessee for our annual ReFRESHTM in the Smokies Conference, followed by ten days in the Holy Land.

Here are some thoughts:

  1. Airports are no fun. They are opening businesses in the Atlanta airport, but the seats in the waiting areas seem like something left over from a prison. You can’t get comfortable. There is no Crown Room in the D concourse where, it seems, all my flights are. There are no good places to eat there, just fast and junk food. You have to get on the train to find a place to really sit down and eat.
  2. If the economy is down, you sure wouldn’t know it by walking through an airport. People are everywhere. Every plane is packed, and most folks carry enough luggage to move to Europe.
  3. There is no such thing as an on-time departure. If there is, it falls into the category of miracle.
  4. There is no such thing as a good hotel pillow.
  5. If you happen to be stuck in a hotel for any length of time and end up watching the news channels, you could quickly become manic depressive. In a recent speech, our President used the word “crisis” 27 times. Is this supposed to instill confidence in me? FDR said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” BHO implies we better start fearing fear. Leadership is supposed to instill confidence, not blow it away.
  6. There’s nothing like being home. Thankfully, for many of these trips, Terri is with me.
  7. I have greater admiration for those who have to travel for a living and are still active in their local church. They don’t bail out and make excuses; they show up and serve. You’ve got to admire folks like that.
  8. I’ve learned (sort of) to use a Blackberry while traveling. I got one, finally entering into the 21st century, about a month ago. Of course, I needed someone to set it up and program it for me. I am computer and techno illiterate. But, once I figured out what buttons to push, it’s nice. I’ve got a Blackberry, and the President didn’t have to give his up. Is this a great country or what?
  9. Eating out can become a highly overrated experience. Sometimes you just want a good homemade sandwich and some chips and salsa.
  10. Last but not least, while traveling, I can catch up on some movies on my iPod, read (books, I don’t have Kindle yet) and just ponder ministry, purpose and life in general.

In the midst of all this, God has been moving in the church I pastor. There’s a fresh wind blowing in our midst. We are seeing the baptismal waters stirred every week. Our number of visitors is up. There’s something in the air, and you can feel it when you walk on the campus. That’s the best part. When I’m home, I get to be with people I love and see what God is doing at home.

If there’s no place like home, there’s no place like my home church.

(copyright 2009, Michael Catt)