February Canvassing Trip Day 1:

I boarded my plane in Omaha this morning at 10:55. I’m flying Southwest {feel the LUV!}, so I get to pick my own seat. I like that…and I don’t. I get to pick my spot, but I have to decide where might be an opportunity to share might be. Last time I flew Southwest I picked a row with a lady. That was fine, but they seem to be quite and absorbed in book or sleeping most of the time. As I waited at the gate I looked around at the people. Who might I want to sit by for an hour and a half? One gentleman caught my attention. He look like he was traveling for business, but seemed either anxious or stressed or depressed. He paced back and forth, checked his watch, paced, took off his jacket, looked at his watch... If I see an empty seat by him I think I’ll take it. I tried to imagine what might be weighing on him so.

The gate attendant announced that boarding would begin shortly and the A group lined up by their respective pillars. The business gentleman pressed forward to his place in line and disappeared from sight. Group A boarded and I took my place at B18. Praying as I rounded the corner to enter the aircraft, I spotted him right there in row 4 in the aisle seat. Another business looking gentleman occupied the window seat. Feeling conspicuous I hesitated to choose the seat, but the line stopped just ahead of me so, “Well, I guess I’ll grab this seat.” He jumped up and helped me into the seat. I positioned my luggage in the overhead bin and squeezed my bulging backpack under the seat. Polite “oh sorry” and “excuse me” passed between the three of us as we got situated. The gentleman in the aisle seat, still with anxious manners, began browsing through a magazine and the other was looking over some papers on transportation efficiency. The seats filled and soon we taxied out.

Once in the air I pulled out my backpack and retrieved my devotional (one of my very favorites, Streams in the Desert). After an encouraging reading I decided to read the chapter in Isaiah from which the devotional scripture was taken. The flight attendants came by to take orders. I declined since I had my full water bottle. I opened my Bible to Isaiah 58. Before reading I selected a few GLOWs to keep in my pocket for quick use. After putting them in the front of my Bible I decided I was thirsty and located my water bottle. As I flipped up the straw, a fountain of water erupted from the bottle. Shocked, I quickly closed it, but the damage was already done. Thankfully it missed my good humored neighbors. They offered their condolences as I dabbed at my wet Bible with my sleeve and requested some napkins for me as the flight attendant came by. “And that’s not the book you wanted to get wet”, offered Mr. Aisle. “No,” I laughed, “but I think it will survive.” “It’s the weathered look,” says Mr. Window. I laughed again. “I’m sure God will forgive you”, comforts Mr. Aisle as I carefully place napkins between the most affected pages, “I’ll ask Him to for you.” I smile, “I’m sure He will.”

Following that introduction (that regrettably never included exchanging names) the ice was sufficiently broken. I asked them if they traveled a lot and my suspicions of businessmen were confirmed with a double yes. Mr. Window, from Sioux City, owns a trucking company with his brother (hence the transportation papers). Mr. Aisle, from Fremont, works for a company that has something to do with 3rd generation pasta from Europe (I think). I got a bit lost in the explanation that passed mostly between Mr. Aisle and Mr. Window. They hit it off quite well and I was the successful conversation moderator asking questions that the two of them then answered in business fashion between themselves. I found it quite humorous. I was able to interject a comment, polite nod or chuckle occasionally. A lively discourse continued for the duration of the flight. It floated from commuting to cities lived in, to selling houses, to snow storms, to the technological state of the world, and concluded with children and the opportunity we as children have to communicate in numerous ways. Yet we agreed that the danger is that so much of it can transpire without the awareness of the parents. We also discussed the problem that it is causing in that the younger generation is losing the ability to communicate face to face. (I say we now because I entered into the conversation a little more at this point.) I was impressed with Mr. Window’s involvement with his children. He has a system set up through his work where he can track how many texts his children send and then compares it with the number on their phones. They abide by the rule that no messages are to be deleted and mom and dad can review them. If the number doesn’t match the phone is confiscated.

I kept waiting for them to ask me where I was going. Finally they did. I explained and offered them a GLOW as we approached Chicago-Midway airport. I can never decide which one to give, so sometimes I let them pick what looks interesting to them. Mr. Aisle made me pick for him. Mr. Window selected one on the Sabbath and one on “The Economy and Your Future”. For Mr. Aisle I spread the stack out in front of me hoping he would spy one of interest himself, but he insisted with a smile that I choose for him. So I gave him one on Daniel 2 and one called “Talking to God” which is an excerpt on prayer from Steps to Christ. He took them with thanks and a smile, and a big change from his persona at the Omaha gate. Though I wasn’t able to overtly share Christ, I did my best to represent Him to them. I pray that the seeds of truth shared will be watered. I also encouraged them in dedication to their children.

As we taxied into our gate, I gathered my things. Mr. Aisle retrieved my luggage from the overhead bin and Mr. Window carried it all the way up the gangplank into the airport. Since it was nearing lunch time he told me where I could find the food court. With thanks and “God Bless” we parted ways.

My two hour layover was spent going in the opposite direction of the food court and absentmindedly asking a nice black gentleman for directions. The problem was he was recruiting people to sign up for a Southwest Chase card. He greeted me warmly and I asked, “Did I pass the food court?” To which he replied, “Are you over 18?” Trying to figure out how that fit into my search for food I answered, “I’ll be 22 next month?” “Ah, well then, sign up here and with your first purchase of any amount you get a free flight to anywhere Southwest flies! Here, you’ll get a free Chicago T-shirt too!” Being the kindhearted person that I am he finally persuaded me, and then directed me to the food court. In turn I handed him two GLOWs.  He looked at them, “Signs of the Times,” he read title. “Oh no,” escaped his lips and I wasn’t sure what it meant. “I did yours now you have to do mine,” I said with a persuasive smile. He smiled back and said with sincerity, “I will read them.”

After finding my way easily to the food court I decided I would save some money and eat my favorite granola bar (Dr. Nedley’s Uplift bar!) and cup of peach medley applesauce. Then I went to my gate and while waiting for my plane started this blog.

The next flight was just barely over half full. I chose a seat by the window in row 3 with a sweet elderly lady. We share a pleasant conversation off and on throughout the flight. She was returning to Little Rock from a two week visit with family in Denver, CO. She asked me where I was going and I shared about the canvassing I would be doing. She asked if I was going to school and we talked about the wide variety of career opportunities in so many fields.

Towards the end of the flight I asked her if she liked to read. “Yes, I do, but I couldn’t find my book in my bag,” she replied. I pulled my Happiness Digest out of my backpack and gave it to her. “I can keep this?” she asked with appreciation. I told her how much I enjoyed reading it. I showed her the other books listed in the back, “These are the books I will be selling.” I asked if she studied the Bible. “Oh, yes,” she said, “I make that part of my day! And I pray too.” We shared about how Christ makes such a difference in the life, and how so often we don’t realized the power available to us through prayer. She thanked me for the book as she looked through it the last few minutes of the flight. “This looks like stuff that is useful in everyday life. I will cherish this book and think of you.” Her name is Jean, just a few letters away from mine. :) The flight attendant helped Jean with her luggage off the plane. She was gone so quick while I gathered my things that I missed saying goodbye. Thankfully she showed up right next to me at the baggage claim. “It was so nice to meet you,” I smiled, “Have a safe rest of the trip home. I will keep you in my prayers.” “Thank you, sweetheart. You do that!”

It was a good day! I pray the Lord’s blessing, protection, and guidance on my three new friends, and hope I meet them again someday.

P.S. I do get internet here in the hall way so I will try to post each night. I'm not in Memphis anymore. Things got switched around and we are now in Clarksville, TN on the boarder of TN and KY in a city of about 130,00.