I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. (Jeremiah 1:5a)
While in Los Angeles with my daughter Ally, I somehow lost my wallet.
I am pretty sure I left it in her apartment complex’s laundry room, but when I went back up to retrieve it, the wallet was nowhere in sight. I immediately contacted the manager of the building, who contacted security, but the wallet was never turned in.
The people who found it must’ve been sorely disappointed to discover I only had $30 cash, several credit cards with low credit limits (so I wouldn’t overspend), my library card, my driver’s license, pictures of my family and a few business cards. Not exactly a treasure trove for the dishonest person who decided to keep it, but pretty important to me.
I realized just how important when I tried to go through airport security without a photo ID in hand. Knowing this would be a problem, I called the airline ahead of time and told the customer service specialist what had happened and that I was without any form of ID.
She sympathized with my plight and said, “Just make sure you arrive really early and tell the security people your situation. They will work with you to prove you are the person you say you are.” Seemed reasonable enough, so I made sure I arrived more than three hours before my flight (which, believe me, is in itself a miracle of God).
When my turn came to show my boarding pass and ID, I shared my story with the airport security officer. He looked at me and said, “This could be a problem. Stand to the side while I call for my supervisor.”
I stepped to the side, feeling like a criminal, all eyes on me. About 15 minutes later the supervisor arrived and escorted me to a different holding area. And, yes, everyone was still looking at me. He asked, “You don’t have anything on you that identifies you? A piece of mail? A photo ID of any kind? Possibly a library card?”
“No, my library card was in my wallet. I don’t have any mail with me, but I do have one of my books that has my name and picture on it… will that work?”
“Let me see it,” he said. “No this won’t work.”
I realized that my legal name and my pen name aren’t the same: Michelle Leigh Adams and Michelle Medlock Adams are close, but not close enough for airport security.
Getting desperate, I offered: “I have a prescription bottle with my name on it because I was fighting an ear infection before I left for this trip… will that help?”
He took the bottle from my hand and read the prescription number over the phone to someone giving him orders. Everyone was still staring at me, and now I looked like a terrorist who might also have a drug problem. Awesome.
“What is the make, model and year of your car?” he asked.
“Uhhh… it’s black,” I said, having no idea of the specifics. I finally remembered the kind of car but not the year or model.
“What kind of vehicle did you have before your current car?”
“Uhhh… it was a small SUV. I don’t remember exactly but it was goldish tan with leather interior and lighted makeup mirrors.”
He smiled, thinking I was making a joke, but I wasn’t.
“I can call my husband and ask him. He is the ‘car guy’ in our house. He’ll know,” I added, but the supervising security guy told me to put away the phone and leave it in my purse until I was given permission.
I am so going to the place they took Greg Focker when he said “bomb” on board the airplane in “Meet the Parents,” I thought.
“What is your home address and phone number?” he asked.
Finally some questions I know the answers to!
He took me to another area where I was patted down by two female security guards, and let’s just say they were very thorough. Yikes! After they checked all of my carry-ons and all of me, I was cleared to fly. I had somehow proven I was Michelle Adams, even though I had no idea the make, model and year of my car.
As I sat on the plane, I thanked God that I was able to travel home that day. While I was in the thankfulness mode, I also prayed, Father, thank you for knowing me. Thank you that I don’t have to know the make of my car to get entrance into your presence. Thank you for calling me your child and knowing how many hairs I have on my head and caring about every aspect of my life. Thank you…
Isn’t it wonderful that the Creator of the world knows you by name? The Word says that he knew you before you were even formed in your mama’s belly. How wonderful! Rejoice in that truth today. Oh, and you might also want to review the make, model and year of your car–just in case you ever lose your wallet before a flight.
