As much as I try, I'm really no good at holding cards close to my chest. Most of my friends know the stuff I like the most, and as music goes, an Andrew Peterson reference likely evokes a collective 'that figures', to which I say that it could have been Rich Mullins.
This one comes from a hard-to-find album called 'Appendix A'. If you are ever so inclined, I believe you can purchase it from AP's artist community page, www.rabbitroom.com. The song is called 'The Thing About Airplanes'. AP is a master storyteller, and I'm so impressed the way these clear and relatable stories are told in a way that reveals so much truth.
The Thing About Airplanes
I left on a jet plane for faraway lands
but my expectations are much less than grand
‘cause I’m sitting here next to this overdressed man
and I only want you next to me
well, you know I love flying, especially at night
and I asked for the window, but I got the aisle
so I’m grumbling next to this overdressed guy
and I only want you next to me
yes I only want you next to me
this high road I’ve taken, this distance that kills
would be easier traveled if not for the guilt
‘cause it ain’t circumstances that drove us to this
no, I chose to be flying away
but that really don’t matter that much I suppose
in light of the distance between us that grows
‘cause I’m here and you’re there now and all that I know
is I don’t want to be on this plane
no, I don’t want to be on this plane
these clouds appear solid but the plane barrels through
an illusion of substance without any truth
so I’ll rest on your wings, Lord, and savor the view
and I won’t let my fear in the way
and I’ll try to consider it joy while I’m here
‘cause I read that I’m blessed if I persevere
God fashions a crown from the pain and the tears
and He carries us all of the way
yes, He carries me all of the way
now the thing about airplanes I noticed this time
is you can’t look ahead and you can’t look behind
but you can see where you are when you look out the side
and you can try to recover some peace
in these thunderhead mountains all cottony white
the works of my Maker I’m flying beside
but I can’t hardly see past this overdressed guy
oh, I only want you next to me
I only want you next to me.
AP is writing about his wife, and since I've been married, I can relate to this feeling whenever either of us travels for work or school. The funny thing about missing someone, (and learning to trust God - all that) is that even in marriage, I recognize a sense of longing and loneliness in marriage that I had when I was single. As close as I can get to Cara, I still feel like the guy on that plane. Why is that?
As much as I'd love to work through that now, I'm creeping up on 600 words, and you've endured enough from me for one post. Hopefully I'll get through that question soon, cause loneliness is a big deal. It was before I was married. It still is now. Even so, I trust God has his purposes, and I think even this question is one that can lead us closer to him.