A Wing and a Prayer

Back in January, I attended the Women’s Conference at our church.  Esther Burroughs was our speaker and Marlesa Greiner was our music leader.  These ladies were simply awe-inspiring.  The weekend absolutely flew by.  

One of the things that Esther talked about was “going out of your way while on your way.”   I started thinking about all the opportunities I had missed just because I wasn’t paying attention.  And I decided that I was going to do a better job of going out of my way while on my way.  I had a long talk with God about that.

The morning after the conference, I left on a trip to Washington, DC.  I just asked God to send the people my way or put me in the right situation to show His love to others.  And then I asked Him to give me sense enough to recognize those people or situations.  And then I asked Him to show me what to do or say.  

The first leg of my flight was from Montgomery to Charlotte, North Carolina.  I couldn’t wait to see who God was going to have in the seat next to me.  Nobody.  There was nobody sitting next to me.  I certainly did not feel a Divine vote of confidence.  We landed in Charlotte and I was still thinking about that empty seat and God’s sense of humor.   

As I turned to get up to leave the plane, I saw a lady sitting on the other side of the plane a couple of rows back.  She didn’t look so good.  So I asked her if she was okay and she said, “Not really.  No.  I need to get off this plane.”  She said it felt really hot.  So, I tugged on her and said, “Get in front of me.”  And I asked everyone getting off the plane to wait for her to go first.  And they waited – while I fanned her with the cardboard safety instructions.  Would I have noticed her if I hadn’t been waiting on God to send me a “job?”  Or if I had met a person sitting next to me and was talking to him/her?  Maybe.   Probably not.  

On the other part of my flight – from Charlotte to Washington, DC – I was sitting by the window.  I waited and waited for someone to sit next to me and I was thinking that I would have an empty seat again.  One of the last people on the plane was a young woman and I KNEW that she would be sitting by me.  I asked her if she was traveling to Washington or somewhere else.  She was on her way to Washington because her sister was having a baby and was actually in labor right then – and had been all day.   The baby was a girl and the first grandchild for the family.   The young woman was from the Dominican Republic and most of her family was still there.  She was worried about her mother not being there for her sister and really wanted to get to the hospital before the baby arrived.  So, I said, “Well, I will just say a prayer right now for your sister, the baby, and that you will get there in time for the baby’s birth.”  And I did.  We kept talking and ended up sharing a bag of M&Ms during the flight.  She told me about her work and how much the rest of her family wants to come to the United States.  When the plane landed, she immediately called to check on her sister – and the baby had not been born.  She had no idea where the hospital was and it turned out to be ten minutes from the airport.  She said, “I was so nervous about this trip, but I just know it will be ok.  I know I will get there and my mom is going to be so happy.”  That was a God thing.  

Don’t ever doubt that God can use you – even for something very simple but very meaningful to someone else.  Keep your eyes open and your prayers winging their way to God!  You will get chances to go out of your way while on your way.

There’s more.  The return trip was just as awesome.  I actually met a guy who plays football for the New England Patriots.  But that’s another story.

When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.  Psalm 138:3