A Wheelchair Story

Week of October 4

My flight to Sarasota is canceled because of bad weather in the Northeast. I call my wife and tell her the bad news.

“Well, do God’s work,” she says, “look around and see who you can help.”

As she says this I notice a man in a wheelchair staring at his flight ticket. I ask him if I can be of help. He nods explaining his flight has been canceled and he needs to be rebooked. We make our way through the concourse to the appropriate counter and stop behind a line of disgruntled travelers.

The agent looks up and notices my friend in the wheelchair and waves us forward. I wheel Earl forward(we are on a first name basis now.) The agent takes his ticket, taps rapidly on a keyboard for a minute or so, and hands him a new ticket.

“You are on the next flight to Philadelphia with a connection to Dayton. It should be boarding in about forty minutes.”

He then asked for my ticket. “Oh we are not together, I’m trying to get home to Sarasota.”

He looks at my ticket and returns to the computer. There is more incessant tapping on a keyboard. Finally he says, staring at the computer, “I can’t get you to Sarasota today but I can get you to Tampa, would that help?”

My wife drives the 45 miles from our home to Tampa International and we have dinner together that evening because I took her wise suggestion and helped someone in need. By serving others we our served.

Mal Salter
Sarasota, Fl.