Sorry, ma'am, you're in my seat!

November 26, 2007

By T. Ray Rachels

The best things most often happen, I believe, when your attitude is pointed in the direction of grace and generosity.

It was a Saturday morning at the airport and I was headed for Dallas. The plane was already packed when I trudged toward the back of the plane, lugging two carry-on bags. I got to my row and found a nice older lady sitting in my seat. I paused. People were waiting behind me.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," I said, "I think you're in my seat."

"Oh, no, it isn't your seat, sir. This one's mine!" She looked at me with a tough sweetness, then slowly opened her purse for her ticket, pored over it a long time, then showed it to me. Her seat was actually 10C, but not clearly marked. I showed her the error. She was, indeed, in my seat.

She blinked and smiled sweetly, "Well, would you let me sit here? You can have my seat," as she handed me her ticket.

I wanted my own assigned seat. By this time, for me to walk the 20 rows back up the plane's crowded aisle, against traffic, looked impossible. She could see the same thing and looked mournfully at me. I winced inside, but made the tough decision.

"Sure!" I said.

Even though I had made the decision, my mind continued to race and imagine the worst. Hers is probably a center seat. I'll be between two people who will take up all the room. I always ask for an aisle seat. It's a long flight.

But I had said yes. So back up the aisle I went, bucking traffic. People were not smiling as they glared at me. I could almost read their minds. It's really his fault, trying to oust that nice elderly lady from her seat. Who does he think he is? Good for her. She sent the guy packing.

People groaned. Some began shouting, "Back out, back out, this man's got to get out." "What's wrong?" I heard somebody ask. "This guy came to the wrong seat!" "Great!" complained someone else. I groped and stumbled my way past them toward seat 10C. By now all the overhead bins were full.

Just as I finally settled into my new "no leg room" seat behind the first class curtain, the flight attendant appeared at my elbow and asked, "Would anyone be willing to get off this flight and take the next one? We're overbooked." My head popped up. I knew what that meant. I looked up at her and said, "I'll do it" while 20 people behind me were screaming in chorus, "I will," scrambling to get out of their seats to volunteer.

But I was in seat 10C, up front, right beside the attendant making the offer, who said to me, "Please come with me, sir." They took me back to the gate, gave me a $300 voucher for my inconvenience, and put me on the next flight out, one hour later.

I boarded the next flight first in line; my seat was 4B, first class. The flight attendant took my coat, hung it up, and brought me juice as I watched the lines of passengers tramping back to their seats. The flight attendant gave me a hot towel to refresh my face and hands, brought me coffee in a china cup, poached salmon on a linen tablecloth with a linen napkin, and kept coming back to ask if I'd like anything else. Was I comfortable? Would I like some chocolate?

"Thank you," I said, "I'm fine," thinking all the while, What's happening here? I don't deserve this. Things didn't look too good for me for a while, but with some patience, it turned out great. I'm glad I didn't put up too much of a fuss. A little humility back there has gone a long way.

Sometimes things don't work out like you think they should. You really deserve better. You take what feels like undeserved abuse. You've had it hard and shouldn't be made to move for other people. But situations have a way of changing. Hold steady; give a little.

Jesus taught, "Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you" (Matthew 5:48, The Message). Interesting things may follow. Someone may put a voucher in your pocket, move you into first class, and treat you like a king. Just remember, regardless of your present circumstances the end of the story is still being written for you.

"Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes" (Matthew 6:33,34).

T. Ray Rachels is superintendent of the Southern California District of the Assemblies of God.