Angel Unaware

I sat down in the airplane seat preparing myself for the 2.5 hour ride form Ontario (CA) to Dallas. Flying is always an adventure for me–and a dilemma. I want someone to sit next to me to share Christ with, but I also secretly hope the seat will end up empty so I can stretch out a little. So I find myself selfishly hoping that whoever that someone is, maybe they will be small (it’s a big guy thing).

So I plopped into the window seat and waited. A big guy took the aisle seat. Then this little wisp of a girl with dark hair and a huge smile asked if the seat was taken between us. So far so good.

As we ascended to the skies I asked the typical questions. “Are you going home?”  “What brought you to California?” Then she asked THE question. “So what kind of work do you do?” As soon as I tell them I am a pastor, the conversation either closes down or turns to spiritual things pretty quickly.

The conversation progressed amazingly quickly to spiritual things. This young woman (23 years old) was a believer. For two and a half hours we talked about family, life’s trials and our mutual passion to serve God. I was refreshed to meet such a young person (the age of my own children) so humble before God and so committed to serve Him no matter where it may take her in life. She had one of those faces that glows the presence of the Savior, and she spoke of Him in a way that evidenced a deep love for her Lord and a committed, mature walk with Him.

It was almost comical. She had been praying with a friend of hers before she got on the plane about getting an opportunity to share Christ. She had chosen to sit between two strange men, both old enough to be her father, and had willingly entered into conversation with me because she wanted to share Christ with me. I was humbled. I wanted to share Him conveniently–in a way that would have been comfortable for me. She chose inconvenience. For most young women choosing that seat and starting that conversation is moving WAY outside their comfort zone for the sake of the Kingdom.

Hebrews 13:2 says to show hospitality–God’s love–to strangers, because some have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. I wonder if any of us have been seated next to angels on airplanes.  If there was ever a person who seemed like she could have been an angel, it was Madelyn. I tried to minister to her, but instead, she ministered to me and challenged me (probably without even really knowing it). She wasn’t an angel. But if I have ever met one, it should be her. Her love for God, sincerity, and openness about her Lord was infectious.

I need to look around more, and quit trying to serve so selfishly.