Traveling Evangelist

I travel a lot but I have to admit I don’t often engage my seatmate in conversation. Too often I end up in non-stop verbal communication that I am uncomfortable with or embarrassed by. But this trip was different. My neighbor didn’t give me a choice. The minute he was seated he started in. I could tell he was nervous.

He soon explained that it had been some years since he’d flown. I realized how many when he said that the last time he’d been served a full meal on a U.S. flight. He asked about me and then told about himself. We found we had some things in common—I’d been in his area during the Katrina disaster; he is a teacher as is my niece; he knows how to fix things, I don’t!

Then finally after several “hints,” he asked if I was a Christian. Then the conversation really started. I thought he was a new Christian—he was so excited to share his faith, his conversion, how he works with his students telling them about Jesus without compromising his job but openly showing them the love of Jesus. Then I found out he wasn’t so new at this, just still excited about his faith. Still, with that excitement to share. That boldness to tell the world.

I have to admit I enjoyed my flight. I enjoyed my seatmate's enthusiasm for the Lord and I felt a little ashamed at the opportunities I’ve missed in not opening up to past experiences and those people I’ve let slip away from the seat next to me.