Observations in the Sky!

On our recent trip home from Prague, Czech Republic, I made an observation on this International flight, that caused me to sit back and contemplate. As my daughter and I made ourselves comfortable for the long journey home, I perused the cabin of the plane and took note that every single stewardess on this huge aircraft was older than forty years old! If they really were not that old, then they were well worn for their younger years! From my perspective, I always envisioned airline stewardesses as youthful, slender, model types who were light on their feet and easy to look at. They were of course, the very essence of kindness and abounding graceful energy! In my opinion, I really thought that they were the ones who gave credence to the slogan "the friendly skies"! After all, no one who is a frequent flyer, attributes that term to the pilots. We rarely see them and certainly never get to meet them personally. The closest we get to a baggage handler is observing them from our tiny airplane window, as they aggressively throw our well packed suitcase into the cargo hold while we sit above them and wonder if that huge thud we just felt and heard, was our suitcase! Nothing "friendly" about that experience for sure!

As our flight got underway and the routine was established for the next 8-9 hours of travel, my curiosity about these, "old" stewardesses grew! In my quiet moments of observation, I noted that two of these older gals seemed stressed and the flight was barely underway! I began to wonder if they had a problem with one another for some reason. They were having "words" with one another in the aisle! At that moment, coming up my aisle with her utility cart, was yet another "older" stewardess. She banged the sides of the seats over and over as she tried to maneuver her way up the aisle. A look of exasperation fell over her face at her inability to steer that clumsy cart! One kind lady next to the banging cart asked if she needed help? "No", replied the stewardess, "It's just that it's the middle of the night for me!" There was no sweet stewardess smile as she made this flat statement. At that moment she looked even more worn and tired than she had before.

I leaned over to my quietly watching daughter and said, "Do you know what I've observed about all these older airline stewardesses? The older they get, the crabbier they are!" My sweet daughter gave a knowing nod of her blonde head and I sat back to contemplate again. I began to picture the three stewardesses in our section of the plane, as they might have looked in their early years. Maybe at that time in their lives, the freshness of their career choice still brought joy to them. I'm certain that their tolerance for people and the minor inconveniences that accompany any job, were handled with much more grace and patience.

And then I thought of myself... I really am not much older than any of those three stewardesses. In fact, I quickly noted that I actually have fewer wrinkles than most of them! So, how am I handling my position in this "older" stage of life? Have I gotten weary in well doing, in my service to the Lord? Do my aches and pains rob me of joy and tolerance with the people that I try to love and serve? I don't want to become a crabby, old pastor's wife, who once had a Godly, fresh countenance and zest for the Christian life. I want to stay vibrant, friendly and happy in Jesus. I have noticed that the bumps and injustices that are a natural part of life in the ministry, can drain my zip and zeal and leave me struggling to make it through a day. I have learned that it is impossible to live a genuine Christian life without being hurt somewhere along the way! Jesus was hurt, despised and rejected of men. He was faithful all the way to the cross! God does not intend for us to live a defeated, unhappy Christian life!

After reading the law of God to the people, Nehemiah instructed them not to mourn or weep any longer! "....for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10 Keeping my mind fixed on the truth found in the Word of God, gives great joy and strength to my life!

"And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galatians 6:9

Don't faint in the task you find yourself in dear one. Keep a fresh, Biblical perspective of why you are doing, what you are doing and for Whom you are doing it! Then you will find yourself ever devoted and faithful to Christ.

Psalm 5:11 "But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee."