Lenten Reflections #33
Yesterday morning, I arrived at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport at 3:15. The security lines were already hundreds deep. People were tired. Airport employees were tired.
A small man with a walkie-talkie and a smile was in charge of my section of the line. He shuffled us through. “Ten people can go to the next section.” He said. We walked forward and waited. Given the four to six-hour wait times people experienced over the last week, the kind woman behind me and I immediately made a pact that if either of us needed the bathroom, we would hold each other’s place.
The airport employees were calm, patient, and unwavered by the complaints of the angry passengers trying to scoot to the front of a line, “I’m sorry, the end of the line is this way, sir. Not here.” And they were honest with the panicking passengers. “I’m sorry, I can’t help with changing your flight.”
Like a grocery line in Kroger, my bathroom buddy and I repeatedly noticed how we chose the wrong line as we watched the people who arrived with us move forward quickly, and we split off again.
Here’s what I noticed during my three-hour wait:
Stories were shared: Conversationally, I start on second base with most people anyway, so finding connections with the people around me was quick.
People commiserated: the shared experience of being in one place with little control over their situation was humbling.
Kids stayed home: parents were smart.
Books were read: When will we ever get three hours to just read?
Empathy for the TSA agents not getting paid was present: I heard several people say things like: “I couldn’t imagine coming to work and not getting paid.” Or, “How frustrating to stand by a person (ICE agent) who IS getting paid and they are not.”
Stress and overheating: Two people passed out – they were okay.
There was self-medicating:
Dogs make everything better: I sat on the plane with a veteran with a service dog. The sweet eyes and soft ears made my day 100% better.
What I learned:
One man should not control people’s lives.
I’ve heard “This too will pass.” But when? How many wars? How many lost jobs? And lives?
So, I pray. And pray and then say one more prayer. Then I thank God for dogs. They are the only logical ones left.
Thanks for joining me,
I’m so glad you’re here.
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