“Are you stretching your legs and getting some exercise?” the flight attendant asked as I stood in the aircraft aisle on my 11-hour flight from Asia to England.
“Yes,” I replied. “I developed a blood clot behind my knee during a long-haul flight in 2010, so my doctor told me I should get up and move around whenever I fly.”
I was on my way home from a field visit with an AFM missionary family that works in a closed country. To avoid complications, we had met in a neighboring country where we also had meetings with church leadership.
From the start of my flight, this flight attendant had seemed particularly friendly, and I got a sense that she was a Christian, too, and was hoping to start a conversation. “Would you like a drink while you’re standing around?” she asked.
“Yes, that would be very nice, thank you.” After a few moments, I felt impressed to follow her to the rear of the aircraft.
“Oh, you’re here,” she said as she turned around and saw me, passing over the refreshing drink she had prepared. “Would you like something to eat as well?”
“Yes, I don’t mind if I do, thank you,” I chuckled as I tucked into the selection of chocolates and cookies she handed me.
“So, what’s your reason for visiting this country?”
That was my cue. “I supervise projects in Europe and Asia,” I said. “I work with families who are seeking to share the Good News about Jesus in areas where He is not yet known.”
“And what does that involve?”
Over the next several minutes, I briefly shared the role and responsibilities of an AFM field director. “Essentially, I am a pastor to these families,” I explained. “I also hold them accountable for the church-planting process, coaching and mentoring them as they look for creative ways to share the gospel. I observe their family dynamics to ensure that all the members are doing well; not only professionally, but also personally and socially, both with others and within their own family. I help them develop close working relationships with church leadership in their area, too.”
“So, what religion are you?” she asked.
“I’m a Seventh-day Adventist,” I responded.
She was obviously interested. “I’m a Methodist,” she said, “but I must confess I haven’t attended church regularly for quite some time. I go when I can, but my work doesn’t allow for regular attendance.” A shadow passed briefly over her face. “My parents are also Methodist, but all my siblings have left the church. They have no desire for religion in their lives now.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but I sensed you were a Christian.”
She looked at me with surprise. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I watched the way you treated people, how you communicated with them. I know you are trained in customer care, but there was something more, something genuine about you that caught my attention. You may not get to church very often, but when you are raised a Christian and still have Jesus in your heart and a desire to live a Christian life, it shines through. Others can see it, just as I saw it in you. Even if you can’t attend church, you can take time to read your Bible, pray and deepen your relationship with God on a daily basis that way.”
She paused and looked at me thoughtfully. “Thank you,” she said. “I hadn’t thought of it that way before.”
Our conversation came to a halt as another passenger required her attention, and she moved away to continue caring for the other passengers on the flight.
I hoped my comments had given her food for thought and cheered her for the rest of the journey. I may never know the full impact or final outcome of our conversation, but I pray she will recommit her life to her Savior and spend time developing her relationship with Him. Perhaps we will meet again someday in Heaven.
