04.13.04

Today’s devotional was written by Dr. Walker Moore who is president of AweStar Ministries in Tulsa, P. O. Box 470265, Tulsa 74147. You may contact Walker at walker@awestar.org or 800.293.7827. Visit their website at www.awestar.org.

...for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. - 1 Samuel 16:7.

Is it me, or are the stewardesses, excuse me flight attendants, getting older? Remember when every stewardess looked like Sandra Bullock? They were young and beautiful, and all of them had that Colgate smile. You would not be surprised in a moment's notice if they broke out in a cheer. I guess these young attendants are getting older and sometime grumpier. Recently, flying out of St. Louis our flight attendant was talking about her grandchildren and how her "get-up-and-go had got-up-and-went." She was having such a hard time pushing the beverage cart up the aisle that I wanted to get up and help her, but the "fasten seat belt" light was on. Not only do they have Grandma working on the plane, but now they have Grandpa. By the time they get to the back of the plane, I have about 30 seconds to drink a sixteen-ounce Diet Pepsi before we land.

No matter where I sit, the guy in front of me has to lean his seat as far back as it will go. This man usually plants both feet firmly on the floor, while both hands have a death grip on the armrest, and with a single jerking motion he flings his entire weight back as far as he can hoping that his seat will magically turn into a lazy boy recliner. When it does not happen, he repeats these epileptic-type of fits three more times to make sure he is not cheated out of any longitudinal benefits. Now my face is only inches from his head. I know that God knows the number of hair on his head, but now I also know and this is information I am not seeking.

On top of that, fewer airline carriers are serving peanuts, because someone on the flight might be allergic to peanut dust. I am allergic to cats but they still let them on. "The refreshment" reminds me of my elementary school days, you get a drink and one saltine cracker. And they would like for you to lay your head on the table. I think a group of ex-hippies designed airplane seats. Remember that guy in the sixties who tried to set a world record by trying to cram as many people possible into a Volkswagen. Do you know what he now does for a living? He designs airplane seats!

As I was sitting there, the Lord spoke quietly into my heart. (I do not like it when He speaks to me softly). Maybe the reason grandma is working is because she needs the money to raise her grandchildren. Maybe grandpa was let go from his job because they could hire a younger guy at half the price. Now he is just trying to make a living until his retirement begins. And the man who sits in front of me may had a business deal that went sour. Here I am on a plane full of people who have many needs, as many needs as there are seats. What am I doing? Judging from the outside. Lord, help me to see people the way you see them and teach my children to see people the way you do. But Lord help my children grow up to be pilots!

Insight: The process by which you evaluate others is the way you children will evaluate you.

Prayer: Dear Father I am so grateful that you looked past my faults and responded to my needs. You saw my need for a savoir and you sent your son. You say my helplessness and you sent your Holy Spirit. You saw my lack of direction and you gave me your Holy Word. May today I move from seeing other fault to seeing their need. Amen.