Expectations are turned on their heads during Advent. The tiny, newborn baby arrives as the Savior of the world, born among the livestock. God with us arrived in the most unlikely of places.
I recently experienced my own upside-down moment. A few weeks ago, I was traveling from the Raleigh-Durham Airport to Omaha, Nebraska. It was a Monday morning when I made my way through the dreaded Transportation Security Administration (TSA) line. Thankfully, the wait was not too long. I had actually just traveled a week or so before to see my daughter. Everything went through the “machine” just fine during that trip, from Wilmington to Atlanta and back. Today, at RDU, I made it through the “people machine” fine, but my carry-on bag did not make it through its “machine.” I thought I knew why: I had a lotion bottle that held 6 oz. However, it was only partially full. BUT – it had gone through the other airports just fine. I was just too lazy to transfer the contents into a smaller bottle!
So, of course, my bag was flagged! The TSA worker pulls the bag over to the small counter surrounded by plexiglass. I watch as his gloved hands place it on the countertop. He looks over at my anxious and a bit annoyed face and says, “I’m going to need to open this bag. Is that okay?” I’m surprised he asked, but I nod a yes. He proceeds to open my bag as I lift a silent prayer that my overstuffed bag does not explode everywhere. Once open, he heads right for my makeup bag. He unzips this bag and pulls out the offending “large” lotion. I said, “Too big, huh?” And he looked me right in the eye, with his eyes full of regret, and said, “I’m going to have to remove this one. I’m sorry.” He sounded truly sorry. I was sorry I had packed the lotion, and yet, there was something more.
I had just experienced compassion at the TSA counter!! This man did not scold me, yell, or seem frustrated with me. He didn’t sling my belongings. He did not dismiss me as another silly person trying to get something past him. He was kind. He felt my “pain” – or disappointment. His mannerisms spoke volumes; I “heard” him say, “I understand, I am with you, and I am doing my job.” He didn’t try to make me feel better by making a joke. But I did feel better than I ever had coming out of TSA! I walked to my gate smiling.
I continued to smile as I sat at the gate, where my flight was taking me to a Spiritual Formation retreat. While waiting, I felt the spirit already. I had just experienced a nudge, a wink, a sweet, unexpected nod. My impression of the TSA and the airport experience was forever changed by the actions of this one TSA worker. I don’t know how many bags he had to open that day or how many times he had to say it, but I’m convinced his care goes beyond training. My regret is that I didn’t tell him how he changed not only my morning, but my spirit on this day. He was kind and caring. He was Jesus for me that day.
Thanks be to God, we can still be surprised. Thanks be to God when we see Christ, God with us, in another soul, especially in the most unlikely of places. May your Advent and Christmas bring surprises of the wonderful kind to your heart. I give thanks to God for each of you!