And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” (Genesis 2:18)
My wife, Leigh, and I celebrated our forty-fourth wedding anniversary last November. Shortly before that, she and our daughter went on a cruise to the Maritime Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, while I stayed at home in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am not much of a traveler, but Leigh and my daughter are, and it was a good bonding time for them.
So, I was home alone for eight days. Leigh and I have seldom been separated for any length of time, though in recent years she has traveled with her sister to South Africa and Australia while I stayed home.
My airport escapade
This last time I found myself worrying, inexplicably anxious, thinking too much, and out of sorts. In fact, I forgot what airport they were returning to. Their flight wasn’t due until 11:50 p.m., and I would need just thirty-five minutes to drive from our home to the Oakland Airport. As I neared the airport cell phone lot, I suddenly remembered that they were landing at SFO, the San Francisco Airport. In a panic, I reset my GPS to the correct airport and headed there. Don’t tell the local police, but I was speeding on the freeway, not wanting my wife and daughter to wait for long.
I arrived at the SFO cell phone lot just as my wife phoned to let me know they had reached the arrival platform where I could pick them up. Luckily for me, they had to check their carry-on luggage on their return flight, meaning it had taken them a while to get their luggage at baggage claim.
My airport mistake is just the kind of thing Leigh would have prevented if she had been around. But she wasn’t. So, add forgetfulness to the list of my shortcomings when I am left to my own devices.
Back on track
The next day, after Leigh and I had slept in, we did nothing in particular, but I felt so much better having her around the house, and I told her so. My worries vanished and a sense of well-being descended upon me.
We don’t realize how intimately bound we are with our spouse until we are separated, even for a short period of time. At least that is what I experienced. God was right when he said, “It is not good that man should be alone.” That man might even drive to the wrong airport.
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