A constant buzz over the speakers, people coming and going, 2 cancelled flights, 3 delays, and
grumpy, impatient people all trying to get to their destinations.
I’ve been in the airport all day, the personal “victim” of a delayed AND cancelled flight. After standing in line for a total of 2 ½ hours today I was one of the irritated, discouraged, flustered and emotional passengers just trying to make it home. While the middle of the line during my own personal “flight crisis” with 40 other upset passengers in line and one attendant, I thought I would put myself in her shoes. Everyone with their own stories on why their flight was important and why they should get the first flight out of here…and ONE attendant, with all the impatient people and all the stories to hear. The attendant: tall, blonde, assertive, moving quickly; knew her job and did it as quickly as she could with a smile on her face, listening and joking with the passengers. As I watched her interact with everyone I began to realize that it isn’t all about me, or the lady next to me, but also about the people working hard to get us where we need to go. How could I be upset and angry when this lady was treating everyone else with such respect and understanding? That was lesson 1.
Lesson 2: though I had my feelings about the airport and the fact that I had been in Pasco since 10:30 am and was honestly feeling a little sorry for myself, I stood next to a patient and considerate lady, talking on the phone about giving up soda this month and the fact that she could really use one. At first I wondered if that was a code word for another sort of drink, after all, I wasn’t in Rexburg anymore…but as I continued to listen I overheard her talking about Elders and her ward and realized she was LDS. After she hung up the phone we talked and I soon learned she was a busy mother of 4 and had been at the airport since 6 am, and had 3 delayed flights and 2 cancellations just trying to get to Seattle today. Once again, I was a little humbled. Through a good examples and a little of Heavenly Father’s help I think I learned a pretty important lesson. 12 hours in an airport, a delayed and a cancelled flight later, I needed to relearn a priceless principles and bring me back to gospel basics; to take a little time to be more considerate, put myself in other people’s shoes a little humility and patience.
I decided to look at the tender mercies that God had given me: I got a last minute flight home for an extremely low amount of airlines miles, a family that was able to drop everything and pick me up, a nice LDS lady standing next to me in line to lead by example of her patience, a lesson or two learned, and little humility.
