Sometimes I forget to look for Jesus in the minutes of everyday life. Sometimes he just shows up anyway. Take yesterday, for example. I was returning home from a two-week trip which began and ended by getting up at 2 am to catch a morning flight. The time in between was wonderful and exhausting.

Coming home, I spent hours at airports waiting for flights wishing I could step into a Star Trek transport tube so Annie could beam me back to the farm. Boarding the first flight, I was randomly selected for “screening.” Instead of boarding with the first group, I watched as wave after wave of groups marched down the aisle while a security guard slowly, carefully and individually tested me, my briefcase, suitcase, and shoes for bomb residue.

When I got on the flight, most of the overhead space was taken and I’m sure I looked frustrated. A young man with 1960’s hair, oversized, shaded glasses, a bright blue t-shirt for a Congressman I’d never heard of and a well-worn, yellow checked sports coat, hopped up, moved things around in the overhead compartments and cleared a space for my bags. He smiled and said, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” He then sat down and returned to his magazine, looking for no thanks or praise. A good deed, done simply and freely like taking and releasing a breath, as if that’s just the way things are supposed to go and do go, all the time. And, in fact, they are, and do, in the Kingdom of God.

On the next flight, I waited with a group of about 20 people who were also standing by, trying to get on an earlier connection to Orlando. People had harassed the lone gate agent unmercifully, trying to get on the flight. I took comfort in the quiet, smiling faces of one couple who sounded as if they were from Europe. They had not said a word to the gate agent. When the agent called their names and seats, I said, “Sounds like you got on and got aisle seats.” His response was, “We live, always, in hope.” And he gave me a big smile.

I am blessed to have a job, a home, a wonderful family and a meal every day. So many people do not have them. The “trails” of travel are infinitely insignificant compared to everyday life for a majority of people on the planet. And, I am richly blessed by people who quietly share Jesus and the Gospel with me every day. I am especially blessed when I pay attention and notice their simple acts of kindness and expressions of hope and love. I pray that we might all be these people. Read Luke 6: 27-36, and remember, God loves you UNCONDITIONALLY. (And watch for ways God reminds you every day.)

Mike

Today’s reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+6%3A27-36&version=NRSV