There are four of us waiting standby at Chicago's O'Hare airport for the last flight to Bradley Field serving Hartford/ Springfield, Ma. We had all arrived late from the west coast and missed our connections.
The other three men are travelling together and look to be 20 to 30 years my junior.We all surrender our tickets to the agent to see if any seats open up. We are warned that it doesn't look good. Afterall it is a Friday night and people are trying to get somewhere for the weekend. If I can't get on this flight it means spending the night in Chicago.
The waiting room fills up with booked passengers.Where did all these people come from? Couples with little children. Why are they taking such a late flight. Certainly I can't expect to take a seat away from a child. Besides it is past her bedtime. I'm mentally preparing myself for night on the waiting room floor.
The boarding process begins. It seems to take forever. Some more passengers arrive and check in during the boarding. Finally the waiting area is empty except for four
stadbys. The agent sends a colleague down the jetway to see it there are any empty seats. We wait in silence by the ticket counter. I say a silent prayer that we will all get aboard.
The door to the jetway finally opens and the agent announces, "There are three empty seats."
The three men make a bee line for the open door leaving me standing by the counter.
The agent with the tickets turns to me and asks, "What is your name?"
I tell her and she motions for me to follow her. We walk down the jetway to the door of the airplane. She stops and smiles, "You get to sit in first class."
Sam Retlas
West Sprinfield, Ma.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Grandmother's Advice
My grandmother gave me a Bible when I went off to college. She said, “Read it when you feel down or need a lift.” I thanked her politely, packed it away and frankly went on with my life.
Years later, after a marriage, several children and many job changes, I found myself in a bad place. I was really down, lacking direction in my life and I was bordering on serious depression. I really needed to change.
While rummaging through a closet I moved a towel and there was the Bible my grandmother had given me when I was leaving for school. I felt the hairs standup on the back of my neck. I took the advice of that gentle sweet lady and I began reading the Bible.
A few days later, I was visiting my parents and I told them about finding the Bible and what grandmother had said when she gave it to me.
“What day did this happen,” my mother asked?
When I told her my mother had this knowing smile on her face.
“That is the anniversary of when you grandmother died,” she said.
I can say the advice my grandmother gave me did a lot more than give me a lift, it has changed my life forever.
James Cooper
Dayton, Oh.
Years later, after a marriage, several children and many job changes, I found myself in a bad place. I was really down, lacking direction in my life and I was bordering on serious depression. I really needed to change.
While rummaging through a closet I moved a towel and there was the Bible my grandmother had given me when I was leaving for school. I felt the hairs standup on the back of my neck. I took the advice of that gentle sweet lady and I began reading the Bible.
A few days later, I was visiting my parents and I told them about finding the Bible and what grandmother had said when she gave it to me.
“What day did this happen,” my mother asked?
When I told her my mother had this knowing smile on her face.
“That is the anniversary of when you grandmother died,” she said.
I can say the advice my grandmother gave me did a lot more than give me a lift, it has changed my life forever.
James Cooper
Dayton, Oh.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Two Wheelchair Stories
My flight home has been canceled because of bad weather in the Northeast. I call Joy (my wife) and tell her the bad news.
“Well do God’s work,” she responds, “look around and see who needs help.”
While still holding the telephone I notice a man in a wheelchair staring at his flight ticket. I approach and ask if I can be of help. He nods explaining his flight has been canceled and he needs to be re-booked.
We make our way to the appropriate counter stopping at the end of a long line of disgruntled travelers. The agent at the counter looks up and notices Earl in the wheelchair (yes we are on a first name basis by now.) The agent motions for us to come forward.
The agent takes Earl’s ticket and begins tapping the keys on the computer in front of him. After a few minutes he hands him a boarding pass. “You are on the next flight to Philadelphia with a connection to Dayton. Should be leaving in about forty minutes”
The agent takes my ticket and looks back to his computer. “Can’t get you to Sarasota today,” he says, “but how would Tampa do?”
That will do fine. My wife drives the hour from Sarasota to Tampa and we have dinner together because I did what she suggested and helped someone in need. By serving others we are ourselves served.
I share this true story during a moment of sharing at South Shore Community Church.
After the service a young lady comes up to me and says, “You need to hear my wheelchair story.”
“I’d like to hear it.’
Over a cup of coffee she tells me. “I was new to this area and I had a medical problem. I had no family or friends here so I drove myself to a nearby clinic. After a preliminary check I was told to sit in the waiting room.
“I was scared to death and shaking with fear. I bowed my head and began praying. I heard God say that He is sending me an angel. I look up. Nothing has changed. People are sitting or leaning in chairs in various degrees of discomfort. I notice an older gentleman in a wheelchair. He smiles when our eyes meet and I decide to go over and talk with him.”
“How are we doing do here?” I ask.
“I’m doing fine. With God’s help I’ll be walking again in a few months.”
He is easy to talk with and we are quickly engaged in a friendly conversation. After a while I hear someone call my name. It is time to see the doctor. At that moment I realize that my fear is gone and talking with this man has made me feel better.
“I have been talking with you all this time and I don’t even know your name. My name is Sherry,” I say holding out my hand.
“Oh,” he smiles taking my hand in his, “My name is Angel.”
Robert Salter and Sherry Sargeant
Sarasota County, Fl.
“Well do God’s work,” she responds, “look around and see who needs help.”
While still holding the telephone I notice a man in a wheelchair staring at his flight ticket. I approach and ask if I can be of help. He nods explaining his flight has been canceled and he needs to be re-booked.
We make our way to the appropriate counter stopping at the end of a long line of disgruntled travelers. The agent at the counter looks up and notices Earl in the wheelchair (yes we are on a first name basis by now.) The agent motions for us to come forward.
The agent takes Earl’s ticket and begins tapping the keys on the computer in front of him. After a few minutes he hands him a boarding pass. “You are on the next flight to Philadelphia with a connection to Dayton. Should be leaving in about forty minutes”
The agent takes my ticket and looks back to his computer. “Can’t get you to Sarasota today,” he says, “but how would Tampa do?”
That will do fine. My wife drives the hour from Sarasota to Tampa and we have dinner together because I did what she suggested and helped someone in need. By serving others we are ourselves served.
I share this true story during a moment of sharing at South Shore Community Church.
After the service a young lady comes up to me and says, “You need to hear my wheelchair story.”
“I’d like to hear it.’
Over a cup of coffee she tells me. “I was new to this area and I had a medical problem. I had no family or friends here so I drove myself to a nearby clinic. After a preliminary check I was told to sit in the waiting room.
“I was scared to death and shaking with fear. I bowed my head and began praying. I heard God say that He is sending me an angel. I look up. Nothing has changed. People are sitting or leaning in chairs in various degrees of discomfort. I notice an older gentleman in a wheelchair. He smiles when our eyes meet and I decide to go over and talk with him.”
“How are we doing do here?” I ask.
“I’m doing fine. With God’s help I’ll be walking again in a few months.”
He is easy to talk with and we are quickly engaged in a friendly conversation. After a while I hear someone call my name. It is time to see the doctor. At that moment I realize that my fear is gone and talking with this man has made me feel better.
“I have been talking with you all this time and I don’t even know your name. My name is Sherry,” I say holding out my hand.
“Oh,” he smiles taking my hand in his, “My name is Angel.”
Robert Salter and Sherry Sargeant
Sarasota County, Fl.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
A Glass of Wine
My wife and I are dinning out with her best friend and her atheist husband who is also a cynic. He knows I am a Christian so every chance he gets he needles me about
faith.
The waiter comes to our table and askes for our drink order. Three of us order ice tea and the skeptic orders a class of the house wine. When the waiter leaves the man says mocking me,“too bad Jesus isn’t here, he could turn my cheap glass of wine into the best vino.”
I say to myself, I’m not going there, Lord you handle this. I ignore the comment and the ladies engage in a conversation.
The waiter soon returns with the beverages and says to the cynic, “I’m sorry sir but we are out of our house wine. My manager apologizes and said to give you a glass of our best wine with his compliments.”
“Answer a fool as his folly deserves,that he isn’t wise in his own eyes.”
(Proverbs 26:5)
Robert Morgan
Los Angeles, Ca.
faith.
The waiter comes to our table and askes for our drink order. Three of us order ice tea and the skeptic orders a class of the house wine. When the waiter leaves the man says mocking me,“too bad Jesus isn’t here, he could turn my cheap glass of wine into the best vino.”
I say to myself, I’m not going there, Lord you handle this. I ignore the comment and the ladies engage in a conversation.
The waiter soon returns with the beverages and says to the cynic, “I’m sorry sir but we are out of our house wine. My manager apologizes and said to give you a glass of our best wine with his compliments.”
“Answer a fool as his folly deserves,that he isn’t wise in his own eyes.”
(Proverbs 26:5)
Robert Morgan
Los Angeles, Ca.
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