By Doug Strickel
I had a speaking engagement in Indianapolis earlier this week. While the early morning flight out of Monroe to Dallas to get my connecting flight disrupts my normal routine, it always provides opportunity. The opportunity is to observe and engage.
With all the divisive talk these days, I still observed plenty of kind gestures that had nothing to do with political, religious, or social preferences. These acts were purely acts of random kindness from one stranger to another.
With that in mind, as I boarded my second flight for the day, I was looking for my opportunity. I made my way toward the rear of the plane to find my aisle seat. Like many other flights, opportunity found me.
A mother and her young son approached my aisle. He was going to be in the middle seat next to me, and she was going to be in the middle seat behind us. He was apprehensive about being separated from his mom. I am not sure if he wanted to have her next to him or just didn’t want to sit between me and the big guy next to the window.
I offered up my seat and took her middle seat a row back. I didn’t think anyone even noticed. However, a flight attendant came over and offered to help me find an aisle seat if I was interested. I thankfully declined. The gesture would seem a little shallow if I got an upgrade!
The ride was just as expected. Two hours in the middle seat and uncomfortable. It was a perfect reminder of what I need to do more. The mother and her young son were of middle eastern descent. I have no idea where they were from, but they needed to be together. Twenty minutes into the flight, I could see him with his head on her shoulder as they watched the movie Wicked together.
It would be easy for them to go unnoticed. They weren’t drawing attention to themselves. Just a mother and young son boarding a plane.
I am reminded of Jesus’s first miracle. He turned water into wine at a wedding, but the only people that saw the miracle were the servants. When Jesus was born, the angels proclaimed his birth to the shepherds working the night shift. Jesus even said that when we do for the least of these, that we do it for him.
I need to slow down and be more observant. Maybe we all do. A small act of kindness or sacrifice may mean the world to someone that’s hurting, lonely, or afraid. We have no idea what someone else may be going through at any given time.
While at the DFW airport, with a lengthy delay, I stood and just watched people pass by not knowing what they may be going through. I think that delay reminded me to be sensitive to opportunities that come my way.
I don’t know how that mother and little boy did the rest of the day, but at least they were together on a bumpy flight to Indianapolis watching a movie together!
As much as I don’t like the middle seat, I was just fine.
Doug provides professional speaking and coaching services to organizations and individuals. Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build a team culture, feel free to reach out to Doug at doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
