While spending several days with two good friends in Phoenix, our non-stop chatting made me forget to check-in with Southwest Airlines on the last day. Southwest passengers board in the order of check-in, so that meant I’d be last in line…. and wouldn’t get a window seat. After staying up late each night (3:00 AM on my Eastern Time body clock), I looked forward to leaning against the window for a nap.
At the airport, I checked in the old-fashioned way, confirming my tail-end boarding position. Maybe it wouldn’t be a full flight, I thought, but as boarding began, we were told it was.
I sat down to wait and decided to simply ask God for a window seat. “Would you save one for me, Father?”
Once on the plane, I slowly made my way down the aisle, looking right and left for God’s gift — but every seat was taken. Then all of a sudden, half way toward the back, I spotted an empty window seat. Two college-age girls occupied the aisle and center seats, but the window was empty.
“Is that one taken?” I said, pointing.
“No, but that’s only for someone willing to open the emergency door. You don’t want to sit there.”
“Actually, I do,” I said.
“But… I don’t think you heard me.” She said. “You would have to open that big door.”
Thinking I must look weaker than I felt, I said, “I’ll chance it.”
The two girls glanced at each other but stood to let me in.
After smiling at them, I sat down, chuckling just loud enough for God to hear. He was probably chuckling too. After buckling my belt, I studied the exit door. It looked complicated, but I knew the safety folder in my seat pocket would explain.
Just as I found the instructions, a flight attendant leaned into our row. “Ma’m.” she said. “Please look up here.” She meant me.
“Ma’m, I think you’re unaware that you’re in a seat linked to an emergency exit door.”
“Yes,” I said. “I know,” holding up the folder. “See? I’m studying how to do it.”
“But would you be able to?” she said. I nodded with confidence, but she looked doubtful.
“Well….” she said, pausing for effect, “I’ll need your verbal affirmation.”
“I can handle it.”
“So is that a yes?”
“Yes.”
She shook her head and moved on while I memorized steps 1-2-3 of door-opening technique, trying to set aside my own doubts.
Just then one of the two robust girls sitting next to me pulled out her own copy of the emergency folder…. and I knew she wasn’t planning to rely on any old lady in the event of an emergency. So I put my folder away and didn’t give it another thought.
Our flight passed without incident, and I appreciated not having to nap with my head hanging and bobbing. What I enjoyed even more than my window seat, though, was my private little chuckle with a generous heavenly Father.
“The living God… gives us richly all things to enjoy.” (1 Timothy 6:17)