THIS WAS SENT TO ME BY A FRIEND OF THE PERSON WHO HONORED THE MEN SERVING THEIR COUNTRY. IT IS A STORY THAT EXEMPLIFIES CHRIST-LIKE COMPASSION AND IS SO FITTING FOR VETERAN'S DAY!


I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.

'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch
would help pass the time...

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks.
I'll wait till we get to base.'

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied,
wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later
with a dinner plate from first class.

'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room.
A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me
twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base.
It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.' Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.

As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

THE LITTLE THINGS

THE LITTLE THINGS

               Not many of us live a life that is full of thrilling, exciting events!  And even those who go from one adventure to another find that after a while, even that becomes commonplace and mundane. Just a few days ago I was reminded that very important, God sent, and even life changing events many times start with common, ordinary, and seemingly run-of-the-mill experiences.

               My regular Bible reading had brought me to I Samuel chapter 9.  It tells about a rather wealthy man by the name of Kish.  One day Kish’s donkeys broke out of their pen and wandered off.  Any of us raised on the farm know that when livestock get out of the fence, the first thing that needs to be done is to find them. They need to be brought back before something happens to them or they ruin some neighbor’s crops, fences or even worse. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take a servant with you and go look for the donkeys.”

               After searching unsuccessfully Saul said, “Let’s go home.”  But the servant said, “Let’s find the prophet who lives around here.”  The day before they found him, the prophet Samuel got a message from the Lord.  He said, “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from Benjamin.  Anoint him to be leader of my people Israel.”  Notice the Lord said, “I will send you a man.”  How did the Lord do that?  By allowing (causing?) the donkeys to get loose!  I am sure that Kish, his son Saul, or the servant had no idea that God had arranged for the donkeys to get out!  But God had an agenda!  He ALWAYS does!

               Saul obeyed. I thought to myself, “What if Saul had not obeyed?” Actually, since God was working this out in order for Samuel to meet Saul.  Saul had no choice!  God was at work and Saul’s obedience led to a startling event that he could never imagine in his wildest dreams…to be anointed King of Israel.

               Through a series of “coincidental” events such as: 1) the servant suggesting they find the prophet, 2) they “happened” to meet some girls who knew what road to take to find the prophet; 3) Samuel “happened” to be walking on that same road toward them; 4) Samuel knew Saul was the man as soon as he saw him.

               So, the mundane daily requirements of life many times lead us to untold blessings and opportunities.  As with Saul, it might begin with a disappointing inconvenience or an interruption of a schedule and regular routine. But God is working on the other end of the story!  Who knows what thrilling things He has for those who obey in the “little” things? 

               I am reminded of the Lord talking to Zerubbabel in Zechariah 4:10 as he was doing some small things to begin the temple. The Lord said, “Do not despise these small beginnings…”!

Note: This was written the first part of November, 2012. It is to be published in InterAct Ministries InterCom edited by Judy Richardson.