Kids on a Plane

Odd things happen to me on airplanes—and surprising lessons too, sometimes.

Not long ago I was flying to a conference. I’d lobbied hard to get an aisle seat so I’d have a little more room to work. I was just settling in when on they came—a stampede of alarmingly energetic children swarming the rows behind me, their parents barely able to get the pandemonium under control.

As they stuffed the overheads and bickered over who would sit where, I fumed silently, They better chill out…

Of course this wish was in vain. Once we hit cruising altitude and the seat-belt sign was extinguished, it was as if the recess bell had gone off. One game seemed to be how many times they could kick the back of my seat (extra points apparently for slamming the headrest). A younger boy was obviously conducting a stress test on his tray table, assessing how many times it could be raised and lowered before it came off in his hands. Somewhere over Ohio an ice cube hit the back of my head and then, in a mass rush to the lavatory, my work papers were sent flying.

The moment the plane pulled into the gate I stood and turned, ducking the children’s jumbled impedimenta as it rained down from the overheads, fixed the mother with a furious stare and was about to have my scolding say when she gasped, pointed at me and blurted: “You write for Daily Guideposts! I know all of you! Rick, Andrew, Linda, Mary Lou, Elizabeth Sherrill—I love how John calls her Tibby.” As if to prove her point she pulled a copy of our annual devotional book from her carry-on.

Well, that was close. But it was a blessing too. We say that Daily Guideposts is like a family, and families can be unruly sometimes. It’s a good lesson to keep in mind, especially at this time of year.

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