Isn't it strange how God will send a perfect stranger to remind you of your blessings. That's what happened to me last week. I had boarded a flight headed to Missouri to spend time with my family. After I took my seat, an older gentleman sat down in my row. At first, he seemed like a bit of a curmudgeon. He tossed his things on his seat and almost through his bag into the overhead bin an plopped down into his seat without saying a word. He looked to be in his 60's...attractive, African-American, not necessarily distinguished looking, but he was the type of guy you see and you just know there's way more to him that what you see on the outside.
Anyway, he takes the aisle seat leaving the middle seat open. I was quickly trying to respond to email on my Ipad before they closed the airplane doors and made us turn our phones off. He struck up a conversation with me about my arsenal of electronic gadgets. I explained to him what everything was, then I asked him if he had an IPad. He replied that he was still using a flip phone and would probably never move into the new age of technology. We both laughed.
He told me he lives in Detroit but was traveling to Phoenix to spend time at a home he has there. We talked about Detroit (I had just come back from there) and about my home, Nebraska.
Shortly after our middle seat occupant boarded, the flight took off. After a few minutes, the guy took out a newspaper and began reading it. Middle seat got up to use the bathroom, and I took out my laptop to do more work. Admittedly, I was frustrated because it was my birthday and all I wanted to do was relax on the flight, but I still had work to do.
The guy looks over at me, "You're at it again huh?", he says.
"Yeh, unfortunately I have work to do," I say with a slight frown.
"Oh yeah?" he replies, leaning over as if he was showing me something in the paper. "I'll show you some unemployment figures that will make you glad you have work to do!"
We both laughed (me more out of embarrassment than anything else), then he went back to reading the paper.
Trying not to appear ungrateful, I quickly said to him, "You see, it's my birthday and I just wish I didn't have to work on my birthday."
"Oh, Happy Birthday! Well, I can understand not wanting to work on your birthday," he says. Trying to appease.
Then I turned to him and said, "You're right though, thanks for the reminder."
He smiled and went back to reading his newspaper.
He WAS right! How many times have I complained about my job and all of the work I have to do or how busy I am? It was like a lightbulb turned on in my head when he said that to me. I decided right then to be grateful for my work/job at all times...no matter how tired I am or how frustrating it becomes. I am blessed with something many people in our country have lost and can not find. How dare I speak about work as misfortune?
Later in the flight, middle seat and the guy strike up a conversation. I overheard him telling her that he has worked as a dentist for over 40 years. I imagined how hard he must have worked to get to get to a point where he could enjoy a vacation home in another city. I also imagined how much life experience he must have and how many recessions or downed economies he's been through. It was yet another reminder...this one about how important it is to put in effort and invest in my future.
I left the flight changed by my conversation with that man and I didn't even get his name. I didn't need it, I received just what I needed in that moment, a REMINDER of God's grace and mercy. That was the best birthday present I could ask for.
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