Flight

About a week ago my dad sent me this email.  I have never known my dad to be a writer--before now.  I am blessed that I continue learning from my dad, and I'm beyond honored to post his thoughts below:

Allison,

I am not nearly the blogger that you are nor can I articulate life experiences in to creative prose like you do regularly, but I had a very unique experience on my flight to San Diego last night that made me think of you and how you relate life experiences to what God is trying to tell you.

I had a 5:55pm flight to San Diego from Philadelphia for a “business trip” to visit our office, attend an industry meeting, and play a round of golf at the very prestigious Torre Pines golf club.  I was just slightly disappointed to find out that I was not upgraded to first class as I sometimes am, however, I was #2 on the standby-for-upgrade list should someone cancel.  That put me in a preferred seat/row of 5C.  As the plane was boarding I would study each arriving passenger to determine if they would be taking the center seat next to me.  Both the center and window seat remained unoccupied for an unusually long time.  As the departure time grew near, my thoughts shifted to “good – the middle seat will be open for this long trip making it much more comfortable”.  Just prior to closing the door of the plane, the gate agent accompanied a woman who looked to be perhaps in her 70’s on to the plane.  From first glance I would venture to guess that most people, including myself, pegged her as being homeless by the way she was dressed.  She was African American, very short with 2 wool ski caps on her head.  She wore a down parka, long embroidery type dress/skirts, white sox which were half way up the calf, printed sneakers, and she walked with a stick. Literally an old broom handle type stick.  What struck me about her, however, was that she was very clean and did not smell like a homeless person.  As the gate agent approached, he motioned to me that her seat was the window seat in my row.   He motioned to her to take her seat and said to me, “She does not speak any English”.  As I looked into her face I saw with more detail a woman who appeared to be in the category of a “mountain person”.  I recall from the trip Mom and I took to Morocco that there are people who live isolated in the mountains.  This is what I would have pictured.  The woman could have been on the cover of National Geographic or pictured in a world cultures book.  Her skin was leathery.  She only had a blank stare as if she could not even understand basic hand gestures or non-verbal communication.  What a contrast in worlds which came together on the same row of a plane.  Here I am, pecking away on my handheld electronic device that has me theoretically connected to the world and yet the person right next to me lives in the same world that I cannot connect to.  I cannot even begin to imagine the world that God created for her in comparison the world he created for me.  She was now placed into “my world” by traveling on this plane.   It made me also realize how scary a position this must be for her by not speaking the language – but even beyond that, the fact that she seemingly cannot even gesture to communicate.  With all of the regulations for flying, how is she going to possibly make this trip not knowing about seatbelts or turbulence or complementary beverages or USAIRWAYS Master Cards?……..Then there was a shift in this thinking as she reached over and took me by the hand.  She looked into my eyes.  There was a pause of maybe 4-5 seconds during which time we were both probably wondering in our own unspoken languages, “What is happening?”.  Then she uttered the most universal words known to mankind.  In a very low and very soft voice, while staring right at me with eyes that were from such a far away place….she said, “Pee pee”.  Well, there was no denying her predicament.  The problem was that, in my world, the captain had already ordered the door of the aircraft to be closed, which meant there was no movement allowed in the aircraft until we reached cruising altitude.  We were about to be on an active taxiway and the FAA has very strict rules about cabin movement in this mode of the flight.  How could I communicate this?  Knowing personally that flying with a full bladder is not pleasant, I motioned to the flight attendant that I needed some assistance.  I told her that the woman spoke no English but that it seemed clear to me that she needed to use the restroom.  The flight attendant was very understanding and agreed that the only humane thing to do was to break the rules of the FAA and allow her to proceed to the bathroom while we were on an active taxi-way.  Not only that – she agreed to let her through barrier that separates the first class from the rest of the world (not sure why they really need to do that since you can see right through the curtain).  However, the flight attendant allowed the woman to use the first class lavatory.  Well…what a further contrast in worlds colliding.  Just minutes before the door of the aircraft was closed, a very “normal” looking English speaking traveler was denied access to the first class lavatory and told to go to the rear of the aircraft to use the restroom. 

The flight attendant accompanied the woman to the lavatory and then returned her to her seat.  The attendant  put the seatbelt on for the woman and motioned that she needed to remain seated.  Again, I was wondering if the woman really understood. 

The flight was smooth in the beginning but encountered turbulence about one hour in to the flight.  We were both dozing in and out of sleep and the woman appeared to not be concerned, even though the pilot had to make several announcements about the “rough air” we were experiencing. 

As we made preparations for landing, the plane began to do the “normal” things a plane does when landing.  Noises were different, pitches and rolls were different, and pressure on your ears was different.  Again with no way to reassure or communicate, I had to rely on hand gestures to try and convey that everything is okay.  Just receiving a blank stare from these gestures again made me realize that the worlds we are from are so far apart, yet here we are, in the same place, at the same time.  When the wheels touched down there was once again an opportunity for a communication connection.  Although I have no proof of this statement, it seems that when someone is scared they usually have a similar response.  As the wheels hit the ground, the woman immediately took my arm in hers and grabbed to hold my hand.  I squeezed, as did she, and I clutched our hands with my other hand to hopefully communicate that everything would be okay.  I continued to hold her hand, rough and leathery yet firm, through the entire taxi process.  She did not let go.  Then, as the plane was entering its final turn to match up with the jetway, I motioned to her to open the window shade which had been closed the entire flight.  As she gazed out at the lights and technology she seemed relieved that we have made it.  She gradually released my hand, and we shared another stare. 

The passengers were deplaning, and she seemed content to remain in her seat. I waved goodbye knowing that this chance meeting of our lives would never happen again, but it was at that moment that I was again struck by God’s prompting for a learning moment.  The woman did not return my wave.  That gesture was not familiar to her, and she had no reaction but to stare.   I was about to continue on this journey I began which was now going to take me to high rise hotels, fancy restaurants, posh golf courses and people who knew my language.  Where would she go?  Who would she communicate with?  In what world did she live?  So much to ponder.

The flight attendant assured me that they were watching over her and would accompany her to continue her journey. 

This was a life changing impression for me.  More introspection required.

New

This morning I took a new route to work.  It was so life-giving! (on a Monday morning, sometimes it’s the little things…)

With each passing traffic light, I tried to decide why it felt so good to drive by new trees, new streets, and new Eat ‘N Parks.  The way I drove to work this morning is much more residential than what I typically drive, so I passed by a number of kids on their way to the bus stop or school.  No doubt, this was part of why I loved it—watching kids in their Hollister t-shirts lug their saxophones across the sidewalk (I couldn’t decide if I miss those days or not).

But, I remembered—this is why I really loved the new drive:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Newness is from Christ!  All joy that I experience in new things flows from that truth.  I am new.  Now.

Eat a new cereal today.  Try a new hairstyle.  Talk to a new colleague.  And “behold, He is making all things new” (Revelation 21:5).

Posers, Not Politics

I remember in elementary school one of the biggest insults you could give was to call someone a “poser”.

E.g. “William copied the teacher’s example from class…what a POSER!”

E.g. “I accidentally got the same shoes as Felicity…I feel like such a poser!”

We were soooo young.

The insult gets at an American principal—one that even elementary kids can articulate, apparently—no one wants to be seen as a copy-cat, a people-pleaser.  The goal is to be yourself, unique, original.

The Bible talks about avoiding people-pleasing, too, but not in the interest of not being called a “poser”—in the interest of pleasing God:

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)

This is a capstone Sunday School memory verse.  Don’t worry about what people think.  Aim to please God.  Close in prayer.  Let’s go play on the playground.

So I was kind of startled last night when I read these words from Paul (the same guy who said the words above):

“Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way.  For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:32-33)

Uh.  Is Paul flip-flopping (is that a political joke? (Is it from 2004?) (I know nothing about politics))?

Honestly, not sure (and still know nothing about politics).  But the verses in 1 Corinthians draw out a wonderful, counter-cultural point for me:

To the extent that we are not engaging in sin or disobedience to God, we should do whatever it takes satisfy people in the interest of them meeting Christ.  In seeking to rescue souls, we should “become all things to all people” (1 Corinthians 9:22).

Wear business suits with the people who wear business suits.  Drink wine with the people who drink wine.  Paint watercolors with the people who paint watercolors (do people still do that?).

If it allows for an opportunity to overflow the love of Jesus Christ on to someone—be a poser.  Felicity will thank you.

iFriends

I'm a bit of a second-mover on most technology. I usually wait and see the latest gadget my brother has, hold out about 6-12 months before getting it myself, and then rely completely on him to teach me how to use it. Also my grandparents usually have the newest technology before I do, and when we're together I ask my grandpa what cool apps he recommends.

Several months ago I finally made the plunge to smart-phone world. I remember the day that I walked out of the AT&T store with my iPhone, I was overwhelmed with thankfulness, and I asked the Lord to somehow use my iPhone for His glory. Kind of a weird thing, in hindsight, but I had such a sense in that moment that everything I have really is from Him and for Him, and I didn't want even a trendy possession of mine to be in vain.

Inevitably, I'm now one of those girls who can't go anywhere without taking a picture of what I'm doing and post it with an artsy filter to make it look 10x cooler than it actually is. But the other day I thought about that short prayer I said when walking out of the AT&T store, and I realized how faithful God has been in it. Among other things, the iPhone has allowed me to engage in God-glorifying, soul-strengthening, iron-sharpening community with my best friends despite the fact that each of us lives in a different state.

Thomas, Pete, MK, and I are in communication virtually (no pun intended) all day on a group text message. At any given moment my phone could look like this:

From New Jersey to Pennsylvania to Mississippi to Florida I get to engage joy and encouragement and Godly advice and love (and self-photos and clips of ourselves sleep talking (the offender will go unnamed)) with these people every day.  Last week I had to close out of our group message because I was laughing out loud so hard in the company lunch room reading the messages back and forth.

So thankful. #soproud. Long live CR South Class of 2007's "Most Inseparable Friends"

Love y'all!  (Also, I think we can all agree that we have aged like fine wine--gotten better with age.  Sorry, in advance, for what I am about to unearth below...)

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God." (1 John 4:7)

(P.S. This blog post brought to you by my iPhone Blogger app, naturally)

A Reason to Run

I just love when the Lord gently interjects His instruction so naturally in my life.

Recently I was running in the evening, during that prolonged moment when dusk is turning to dark.  Racing against the blackening sky and all of the boogie men that come out and eat me when I run at night, I urgently picked up my pace and felt myself run harder.  Again, this past weekend I was running to a local coffee shop.  I felt my stride strengthen as I moved expectantly towards morning espresso, good conversation, and sharing joy with a best friend—a few of my favorite things.

God’s lesson was so clear: it is easier and essential to run with purpose.  It makes me go faster.

Of course, as He made this truth tangible for me, I remembered that He has already spoken about such things in His word:

There is a “race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).  And it is not a race run simply for the sake of the journey.  No, we “do not run aimlessly” or in vain (1 Corinthians 9:26), but we must run with a purpose.

Our motivation is not boogie men or coffee talk, our purpose is “to win the prize” to which God has called us (1 Corinthians 9:24).

Contrary to my common thinking that “the prize” is some elusive heavenly something that shines brightly in gold so that I can see it but never really know what it is, scripture is actually quite clear about “the prize” we are running towards (who knew?):

Holiness. (Hebrews 12:10)

Righteousness—not the kind that comes from me and things that I do but that depends only on faith. (Philippians 3:9) 

Knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection so that our souls—that feel dead on their own—can also be raised to life. (Philippians 3:10-11)

Being found in Christ. (Philippians 3:8)

Purpose makes us go places.  I need that.  I need a reason to run.  

When I remember that I have a clear goal for everything I do, I will run harder, better, faster, stronger (had to).  

“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

Truth

Sometimes I make life so complicated. 

Here’s why: my adherence to Absolute Truth inclines me to apply this principal to each circumstance. 

I have realized lately that I am always trying to figure out what is right in a given situation.  What is the true thing to do?  What decision could I make here that would be wrong?  I could agonize over thoughts like this all day.

Surely, there are choices that are more beneficial than others.  Some level of wisdom or discernment may lead me to go here rather than there, or choose this over that.  But if I’m looking for an absolute truth in a scenario, I’m not likely to find it.

Here’s why: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

The only thing that is really true is the word of God!—all else passes away.  And so when I’m faced with a situation where I don’t know what to do, my aim is not to seek and stand on the truth in that circumstance; my aim is to stand firmly on what I know to be true, and usually these truths have absolutely nothing to do with whatever I’m facing.  If God’s revealed Word does not have something specific to say about the situation I’m in, then I can stop looking for the truth that applies to that circumstance and should focus on what God has already said:

God so loved (and loves) us.

He sent His son.  To die.  For me.

And now He lives.  With me.

This truth is what allows me to navigate any situation, knowing that nothing I face will ever have any effect on what’s really true.

How much easier this makes things!  Each decision seems more effortless and incredibly less significant when I focus simply on the truth that stands alone.

I am hungry to know God’s word, the truth that is and sets me free.