Unexpected kindness


Remembering 9-11-2001 by taking flight without fear. God Bless America and the families of those who lost their loved ones 13 years ago.

Hot, busy, tired, and not looking forward to more rounds of MRI appointments at MD Anderson.

The business trip has been productive, and rewarding. The trip home is starting.

Rental car returned, bags checked, Sky Capp tipped, I had the honor to be selected for the quick pre-check line for TSA. The agents were friendly and efficient, and I didn’t have to take off my shoes, or take out my laptop. I thought I won the lottery.

Sitting at the only bar in my concourse, I sipped my Shock Top and stared blankly at the bank of TV monitors spewing the latest in the NFL scandal. If only the media had the same mentality toward our elected officials, as they do for the NFL commissioner…..I digress.

The travelers fill in around me, as I do my best to take up the least amount of space possible…it is a busy day in the airport.

Not being in a jocular mood, I stare at my IPad, the book is open to Emerson’s essay on Prudence. As much as I stare, it goes unread.

This voice intrudes my Boketto. It takes me a few minutes to register that the fellow traveler is speaking to me. He asks where I am headed. I reply “home”.

Little did I know that a one word reply would start such a torrent of unsolicited information. In short order he told me his marital status, how many dogs he owned, how many hours a week he worked, his profession, where he was going, why, and who he would see while he was there.

I asked him a few polite questions, he replied with more information on his Faith, his father, and the projects he had done around San Antonio.

He was off and away as quickly as he set down. He bought my beer, tipped the bartender $10 on an $18 tab. As he departed, he said “my father demonstrated through his life that whatever threshold you cross, be it church, school, business, or bar leave it better than how you found it.”

I wished him a 100 fold return on his generosity, thanked him for the beer, and he seemed surprised at my comment, but pleased.

After he was gone, I was a bit bemused by the encounter, then remembered the scripture about entertaining strangers.

It is those Heavenly Winks, and unexpected blessings that humble me so completely. God loves me, and he sends me that message of love and blessing continually….Sometimes in the strangest places, always when I least expect it, and always when I need it most. God is good to Wendy, even when she is having a beer at the airport .