I am writing this from 20,000 feet or so above the earth on a flight from Las Vegas back home to Louisville. I love flying. The world seems much different from this distance. The land is divided into what seems like perfect squares and the cities seem like lit up decorations that are resting on an old collector's mantle. As we view something or someone from further and further away the imperfections diminish until finally they disappear all together. I am sure someone smarter than me has a word for such a fascinating phenomenon. But as much as I love seeing our world from this seemingly perfect perspective it is most often not the point of view that really matters.
In order to really enjoy this life I have found we must interact with it, imperfections and all. The other reason I love flying is because I get the chance to meet someone new. How often do we sit next to a complete stranger for a four hour trip? It presents a great opportunity to interact with our world in one of the most satisfying (and imperfect) ways, conversation. I think much of the present days' problems could be at least understood if we, as individuals, had more conversation. But I see more and more people secluding themselves from this valuable gift that God has given us.
This flight is not full. In fact, it is less than half full. I was the first one on the plane and took my usual spot in the second row window seat. The next people on the plane was a family of six from Lexington. The dad and the mom sat right in front of me. We quickly struck up a conversation about their stay in Sin City. The people continued to stream on to the flight. A woman sat in the aisle seat in my row. She politely asked if the seat was taken and I, less politely said, "by you!" Shortly after she sat down, a friend or acquaintance of the lady in my row said, "oh there you are. I guess I will sit next to you." She shifted her carry-on and began to climb over for the middle seat. I didn't mind having a full row even though it was an empty flight, it just meant more conversation, but I believe most plane passengers would not second that thought. Sure enough before the lady could even sit down the flight attendant came running down the aisle and intercepted the lady. "There is plenty of room on the flight. No reason to jam in one row." The lady that was getting ready to sit down looked up in confusion and without a word shuffled to the back of the plane. I was left thinking about that as we took off into the sky.
I don't blame the flight attendant. She probably was thinking she was making me more comfortable. But I wanted to say to her, "maybe there is a reason to jam into one row. Maybe the lady wanted to have a conversation with her friend or acquaintance." It left me to wonder what all this isolation and loneliness, whether it comes from our crazy societal norms or our self imposed doubts or our fears, is actually doing to the world.
After all, as I gaze down at the seemingly perfect world below, I realize I can not make that world better from up here. I must interact with it in order to see it change. I am going to start now and strike up a conversation instead of typing this stupid vomit! Till next time...
Edited 4/24:
I have to give you an update on the flight, and in order to do that, I have to go back to the beginning, when we were still at the gate in Vegas. I lied. I was not the first person on the plane. There were two others that were already on the flight. They were older ladies, and had preboarded. I was in the aisle opposite them one row back. They seemed to be in great spirits. The younger of the two women joked with the flight attendant. She told him he didn't know how to "fist pump" and began to teach him her technique that she learned on The Voice. Everyone in the front of the plane had a good laugh. As we took off, the older lady comforted a child of the family of six who was scared. She said, "don't worry, flying is the safest way to travel." They were good people and probably learned the value of conversation early in their lives.
Fast forward to 3 hours into the flight. It was 11:30PM Louisville time and I was getting groggy. As I was about to close my eyes I see the younger lady jump up and grab the flight attendant. She explained to him that she believed her mother had stopped breathing. He immediately got on the intercom and asked for anyone with medical credentials to come to the front of the plane. There was no one. He put the older lady on the floor and began to use the defibrillator and the instructions that came with it. It was too late. The lady passed away on that flight. The daughter, 70 years young, whom taught the flight attendant how to properly fist pump, was upset. She was comforted by a complete stranger that sat behind her, but she didn't need much comfort. I could tell she had a strong faith and she just kept saying, "she passed a lot closer to God than most. I will see her again."
That scene got me thinking again about how different the world we view from the plane is than the world inside the plane. We can't see the death and tragedy from 20,000 feet up, but we can't see the comfort from a stranger and the faith of strong lady either. I got to remember to keep my eyes inside the plane.
It was an interesting flight nonetheless...
