RESERVATIONS

Recently, someone stopped by my office, handed me two sheets of paper, and said something to the effect of, "You're always sharing something with people; here's something for you." Then he was gone. Like so many encounters we have along life's way, this one was brief. But it left a lasting impression...and brightened my whole day. The article is definitely a "keeper". Originally written by Jonathan Lee for the Washington Post, it is entitled "Reservations of an Airline Agent". I've abbreviated it due to limited space, but the point is unchanged. Enjoy!

"I work in the central reservation office of an airline company. After more than 130,000 conversations -- all ending with "Have a nice day and thanks for calling" -- I think it's fair to say I'm a survivor.

"I've made it through all the calls from adults who don't know the difference between a.m. and p.m., from mothers of military recruits who didn't trust their little soldiers to get it right, from the woman who wanted advice on how to handle her teenage daughter, from the man who wanted to ride inside the kennel with his dog so he wouldn't have to pay for a seat, from the woman who wanted to know why she had to change clothes on our flight between Chicago and Washington (she was told she'd have to make a change between the two cities) and from the man who asked if I'd like to discuss the existential humanism that emanates from the soul of Habeeb.

"My battles have included everything from a man not knowing how to spell the name of the town he was from, to another not recognizing "Iowa" as being a state, to another who thought he had to apply for a foreign passport to fly to West Virginia.

"I talked to a woman in Denver who had never heard of Cincinnati, a man in Minneapolis who didn't know there was more than one city in the South ("wherever the South is"), and a man in Dallas who tried to pay for his ticket by sticking quarters in the pay phone he was calling from.

"A woman wanted to fly to Hippopotamus, NY. After assuring her there was no such city, she became irate and said it was a big city with a big airport. I asked if Hippopotamus was near Albany or Syracuse. It wasn't. Then I asked if it was near Buffalo. 'Buffalo!' she said, "I knew it was a big animal".

"Then a man tried to catch our flight to Maconga. I told him I'd never heard of Maconga and we certainly didn't fly to it. But he insisted we did and to prove it he showed me his ticket: Macon, GA. "Half (of the people) will not have thought about when they're returning. A third won't know where they are going; 10 percent won't care where they're going. A few won't care if they get back. "You just have to shake your head in amazement! But it reminds me of a time when Jesus talked with his apostles about a trip he was taking. As I recall, there was a lot of confusion about that trip as well.

"'I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.' Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?' (John 14:2b-5)

"With all the patience of an airline ticket agent, Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'." (John 14:6) "What a glorious trip lies ahead. I hope you've made your reservations!"

Amen, and blessings on your journey.

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

1 posted on 07/18/2020 4:59:58 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska

To: lightman; xzins; bethelgrad; LiteKeeper; MoJo2001; 007; 1 FELLOW FREEPER; 11B3; 1FreeAmerican; ...

Please join us for Sunday Chapel ~ RESERVATIONS, and Liberty

Lt. Charles F. Suver, CHC, USN, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division
"Mass at Iwo Jima"

Please stop in and say a prayer of protection for the military.
Prayers from all denominations are needed.

Sunday Liberty starts after the Guest Military Chaplain's Service!

2 posted on 07/18/2020 5:10:53 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)))

To: Kathy in Alaska

Never have to have reservations here in the woods. I can instant reservations the instant I set down. Change of itinerary is as easy as walking the other way.

God Bless America.

3 posted on 07/18/2020 5:11:22 PM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)

4 posted on 07/18/2020 5:12:51 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)))

Dear God:
I ask that no Airman, Coast Guardsman,
Marine, Sailor, Soldier, Reservist, National Guardsman, or Merchant Marine
feel alone or forgotten.

O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is loving kindness,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
And He will redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.

Psalm 130:7 & 8

5 posted on 07/18/2020 5:14:12 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)))

To: mountainlion

Good evening, mountainlion, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

It’s nice not having to make reservations, and reversing your direction at will. Is it still really hot?

We cannot seem to make up our minds...HOT, cool, a little rain, warm...

6 posted on 07/18/2020 5:26:14 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)))

To: MoochPooch; left that other site; SkyDancer; BTerclinger; DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis; BluesDuke; ..

Shavua Tov.
Wishing all our Jewish troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
a peaceful and prosperous week.

7 posted on 07/18/2020 5:27:54 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)))

To: The Mayor; PROCON; mountainlion; mylife; ConorMacNessa; SandRat; 2111USMC; Jet Jaguar; Publius; ...

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

A Blessed Lord's Day and Shavua Tov to you.

8 posted on 07/18/2020 5:32:24 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)))

To: Kathy in Alaska

I have had similar conversations when I was a 17-year-old Overseas Operator working the graveyard shilf for New England Telephone.

That was years before 911 or the Samaritans, if you catch my drift. Just dial 0....

9 posted on 07/18/2020 5:39:31 PM PDT by left that other site (If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. (Isaiah 7:9))

To: Kathy in Alaska

Keep the Lord’s Day in the Lord’s way!

A blessed Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Western)/Sixth Sunday after Pentecost [Sunday of the Holy Fathers] (Orthodox).

10 posted on 07/18/2020 5:47:27 PM PDT by lightman (I am a binary Trinitarian. Deal with it!)

To: Kathy in Alaska

Hai Kathy! (((HUGS))) Flying jumps.

11 posted on 07/18/2020 5:47:44 PM PDT by SkyDancer (~ Pilots: Looking Down On People Since 1903 ~)

To: Kathy in Alaska

12 posted on 07/18/2020 5:49:37 PM PDT by PROCON (Molon Labe)

To: Kathy in Alaska

Is it still really hot?

It was about 85 today and just rained not enough to get the deck wet.

It is the wash, rinse and repeat for the daily forecasts.

13 posted on 07/18/2020 5:52:41 PM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)

To: MoJo2001; The Mayor; PROCON; left that other site; mountainlion; lightman; LUV W; ConorMacNessa; ...

Prayers for our troops, veterans, families, allies, friends, and Canteeners
for a safe and peaceful week ahead.

14 posted on 07/18/2020 5:56:45 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)))

To: MoochPooch; left that other site; SkyDancer; BTerclinger; DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis; BluesDuke; ..

He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Force, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our G-d from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea.

May HASHEM cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighting men from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.

May He lead our enemies under their sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is Hashem, your G-d, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.

G-d bless and keep your children safe, Alouette.

15 posted on 07/18/2020 5:59:21 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)))

To: Kathy in Alaska

I just read the “RESERVATIONS” backthread....not only what a story but what she’s heard from people is astounding!

16 posted on 07/18/2020 6:01:52 PM PDT by caww

To: Kathy in Alaska

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

July 19

On Our Hearts

Bible in a Year:

These commandments . . . are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children.

Deuteronomy 6:6–7

After a young boy faced some challenges in school, his dad began to teach him a pledge to recite each morning before school: “I thank God for waking me up today. I am going to school so I can learn . . . and be the leader that God has created me to be.” The pledge is one way the father hopes to help his son apply himself and deal with life’s inevitable challenges.

In a way, by helping his son to commit this pledge to memory, the father is doing something similar to what God commanded the Israelites in the desert: “These commandments . . . are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children” (Deuteronomy 6:6–7).

After wandering in the wilderness for forty years, the next generation of Israelites was about to enter the Promised Land. God knew it wouldn’t be easy for them to succeed—unless they kept their focus on Him. And so, through Moses, He urged them to remember and be obedient to Him—and to help their children to know and love God by talking about His Word “when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (v. 7).

Each new day, we too can commit to allowing Scripture to guide our hearts and minds as we live in gratitude to Him.

By: Alyson Kieda Reflect & Pray

What can you do to keep Scripture on your heart? Why is it important to read and talk about the Word with loved ones?

Dear God, thank You for giving me each new day. Help me to keep Your wisdom in my heart and on my mind.

To learn more about how to study the Bible, visit christianuniversity.org/sf106.

17 posted on 07/18/2020 6:06:11 PM PDT by The Mayor (I am outraged at your outrage toward the outrage!)

To: Kathy in Alaska; bitt; LS; SkyDancer; knarf; al baby; DarthVader; ConorMacNessa; radu; Jane Long; ..

18 posted on 07/18/2020 6:43:42 PM PDT by ExTexasRedhead

To: Kathy in Alaska; acad1228; AirForceMom; Colonel_Flagg; AliVeritas; aomagrat; ariamne; ...

19 posted on 07/18/2020 6:58:48 PM PDT by luvie (The bravery and dedication of our troops in keeping us safe & free make me proud to be an American!)

To: left that other site

Have question? Call the Operator. LOL! I can just imagine the questions you got.

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...a Blessed Lord’s Day and Shavua Tov to you and yours.

Did you and Blue get out today? Any garage sales?

20 posted on 07/18/2020 7:00:10 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)))

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794