Cross-check complete, we're ready for take-off.

Photo courtesy of Pure Belief.

Security check: Grab three bins. Unstack 1, 2, 3 onto belt. Place briefcase in Bin 1. Unzip briefcase. Remove TSA-friendly laptop bag and 1 qt. clear bag of liquids. Place in Bin 2. Strip peacoat. Scarf. Tory Burch flats. Place in Bin 3. Place Heys rolling carry-on onto belt wheels first. Look up. Smile. "Aight. You're clear to come through, ma'am." And then they get swimsuit Barbie version of me on a screen or whatever.

You seen Up in the Air? It's like that clip at the beginning. Twenty-seven seconds of choreography through security and I'm free to grab Starbucks and find a dang outlet for my laptop/one of my phones. Reality check: 1.5 million people are cleared to fly every day. Next reality check: that's just the United States.

It. Is. CRAZY. how fixated society is on security.

We're borderline obsessed, really.

Granted, for very, very good reasons. And it's process to learn why, but God, somehow this year You're starting the eternity-lesson of teaching this tiny, small, speck of creation little brunette Alabamian girl a lesson SOLEY for the glory of your huge, swallowing, all-encompassing Love Story...

(I do not have it all now. But I'm losing sleep over this idea, so just deal with how fuddled these words are.)

It's in your Psalm 121, as a weary traveller in pitch-black night is reassured her Protector doesn't even have "slumber" in His vocabulary.

It's in Acts 2:45 as the early church sold everything they have and gave it to someone who actually didn't take it for granted.

Um, it's in the whole Bible.

It's in my job, as a lot of days I just sit and talk to You because I'm alone.

It's in my job, as I dunno what the chick picking me up at the airport looks like or what I'll sleep on or where the bathroom is.

It? Security. The same beast we try to bridle and tame with our TSA, FAA, NSC, CIA, FBI, FDA, FCC, JCS, firewalls, home security systems, Brita filters, Ziploc, iPhone passwords, diary locks, invisible fences, job-because-it-pays-the-bills, and even our boyfriend-hunting.

We will do anything to keep life as we know it or wish it to become.

Security.

But what if we followed a Savior who at his core was LOVE, yet asks for a blank check from His followers? We've elevated safety to the neglect of whatever God's best is, whatever would bring God the most glory, or whatever would accomplish His purposes in our lives and in the world.

I'm NOT saying don't filter your water. I'm a vegetarian for cryin' out loud. But just look around and watch what we do to be "safe." Then think a minute, Christian. Isn't it scary, utterly frightening how we trained our hearts, that we're claiming we've given to Christ, to play by the same picket-fence rules? "Keep us safe on this flight, God?" "Please let my next job be in a city where I have a few friends?"

Father, pull me even closer to You,

use me to declare You during this flight/trip/life.

Whatever it takes.

"People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress."

- Francis Chan, Crazy Love

We gotta get to that point. Got to. Got to, got to, GOT TO...