Smile More

He was smiling from ear to ear.  The journey home from Akron and the UMC Jurisdictional Conference was a two hour layover in Chicago on Saturday night.  The airport was busy, even packed in places.  It was jammed right in front of F4B, the departing gate for the last leg home to Des Moines arriving at 11:30 PM.  Alone in the crowd, I looked around for a friendly face among the people.  Most were anxious, some were quite angry about a Kansas City flight which had boarded and backed away only to find a mechanical problem.  The crew had brought the plane back to the gate and the people were de-boarded. 

Flight crews seem particularly unwilling to visit or be cordial while waiting for new instructions in the midst of a crowded airport.  That must be why he stood out.  He had unusual round glasses, ears that generously held up the spectacles, and a goofy smile that seemed to brighten the crowded hallway.  He was wearing a flight suit of some kind.  Without hesitation, I immediately walked over to the group and said, “Where are you guys flying tonight?”

The fellow with stripes on his sleeve downed the last half of a McDonald’s hamburger and impatiently motioned to the video board of departures.  Not surprised by the expected brush off I remember thinking, “Pilots eat at McDonald’s before they fly across the country?”  Not sure why that seemed funny to me, then a little scary, but it did. 

Undeterred, I turned to the young man with the smile and he began to talk.  First one topic and then another.  He asked me questions and seemed to be really interested in my response.  I quickly found he was the ring leader and everyone was in his conversation pit.  After a few minutes I realized I was in the midst of the flight crew with a discussion about where the new gate for their flight was going to be with all kinds of jokes and wise cracks one might expect.  I thought things like, “How did I get into this circle?  Why was I invited in? Why do these folks feel comfortable with me?”

In that conversation I found the young man with the big smile, which never left his face, was from Council Bluffs where I had served the church for ten years.  We had places and people in common.  I did not know his family directly, but I knew where he grew up and those kinds of things which engage people to one another.  We remarked that it was a small world after all.  He was not a pilot, but a highly regarded flight attendant.  It was easy to see everyone enjoyed flying with him.  And it was his smile that engaged and would not let go. 

As the crew got their new orders we said good bye and they left the area laughing and singing.  I shook my head pondering, “Could it be that easy?  Is a smile all it takes to engage even an unwilling anxious crowd?”  Freedman calls this a non-anxious presence.  I call it grace, and peace, and light all rolled into one.  I think the church needs to smile more.  Where and when do you imagine Jesus smiled? 

Matthew 28:16-20 The Message

^16-17Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.

^18-20Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."