Pounding the pavement in Pittsburgh

Last month, I went to Chicago. That trip has become synonymous with my trek around downtown Chicago, suitcase in tow, in search of my hotel, you know, after I got off at the wrong stop on the El. Fun times.

Today, I arrived in Pittsburgh for the National Youth Workers Convention put on in various cities across the US each fall by Youth Specialties. My company is one of the many who set up a booth in the exhibit hall and use the opportunity to connect with youth ministers and discuss the resources they need, want, and how we can better partner with them. Basically, this boils down to me standing at our booth for hours on end and a lot of talking. And scoping out where the good food give-aways in the exhibit hall are!

I left Nashville ambivalent this morning. I didn’t want to go to Pittsburgh. I was tired, too busy at work, and anxious about my sister-in-law’s doctor’s appointment this morning. I didn’t want to go to PIttsburgh, which in my mind was dirty, crowded, and, well, Northern. I thought Pennsylvania would be ugly and cold, gray and depressing.

But as we took off on the second leg of our journey from Cincinatti, I had a moment to lay my head back against the headrest and close my eyes, to just rest for a second. And I just had such a moment of peace. I started to pray, for my unborn nephew, my brother and sister-in-law, for this child I regard as my own personal gift from God. I prayed for friends by name and simply thanked God for being who He is. It didn’t last long, but the prayer time was worth it.

And when we landed in Pittsburgh, I found I had a better attitude. This was going to be fun. The countryside was pretty. There was an IKEA. Our hotel is beautiful and my room makes me incredibly happy.

The only thing that would make me happier, though, is if you guys would at least pretend to miss me!