First Class Experience

First Class Experience
The depth of the grace of God is something that I know for a fact and yet sometimes forget in the day to day grind of life. I am thankful that once again, God has stepped in to my ordinary life in order to impress His grace upon me in a fresh way.

After a week of visiting family and friends, and being filled with encouragement, training, and spiritual strength at a GEMS ACTS seminar, I was dropped off at the Grand Rapids airport in plenty of time to check in and enjoy a coffee before going to my gate.

After leisurely enjoying my coffee I glanced at the departure screen only to notice that my flight to Minneapolis was now going to be 35 minutes late. Since I only had 40 minutes to make my connection in Seattle, I knew that now my itinerary would have to be changed.

I walked back to the ticket counter and stood in line with the other travelers who also needed to adjust their schedules.

While I was very eager to get back home I realized that the ticket counter lady was not at fault for this delay and therefore I was not angry at her. I also had just heard many times at the GEMS training that God is in control, leave our worries to Him, live with passion in all of our lives for Him, and be obedient in all. So, I was able to patiently wait while my itinerary was readjusted, all the while standing next to a woman who was yelling at the ticket lady next to me. Since I had presented a challenge to the GEMS ladies to be bold in proclaiming our faith in Christ, and even drawing something while praying in color to hand to people, I proceeded to draw a quick little prayer for the ticket ladies saying God loves you, keep smiling! I handed that to the lady as she finished making my flight arrangements. She proceeded to tell me then that she had put me in first class for the flight that I was now going to be taking from Detroit to Seattle!

I said a big thank you to God! First of all that I did get connections in order to make it home that day- even though it would be 6 hours later than originally planned. And also that I would have the privilege of being in first class! I have never had that before so this would be a treat.

I flew first to Detroit- just a regular economy seat that I was used to.
But in Detroit I could get on the plane before everyone else- and on that special red carpet- I was first class, you know! I thought that this was quite special and even then made me feel somehow ‘elite’. I was surprised upon walking into the plane to be greeted by the flight attendant and asked what I would like to drink before we took off! Wow- I didn’t even know about this added bonus and had to quickly decide what to order. Since I don’t usually drink alcohol and normally just get what they give for free, I figured I better be extravagant and order white wine. I had to ‘act the part’, you know, of a first class traveler, right?

I was served the white wine, drank it while the other economy class people boarded, and proceeded to need a nap since I am not used to alcohol! I slept during the take off and was awakened by the flight attendant coming by to see what else I would like to drink, and offering me a hot towel. Man did that hot towel ‘bath’ feel great! This was making me feel even more special than before.
Then the attendant stopped by just to chat with me as he called me by name. “Mrs. Roosma- I think I have had you on my flights before. I seem to remember your name,” he said to me. Hmm- never flew first class before, so I don’t think you would know me.
He then noticed the pins on my coat from our international students- one of a Canadian flag with a Mexican flag, and one with a Canadian flag with a Brazilian flag. He asked me if I was an ambassador from these countries! This was all so shocking to me that a flight attendant would know my name, ask me questions about myself, and show extra kindness that I was taken quite off guard.
I was even more surprised when he came to tell me that he was so sorry but they had run out of a choice in what they were serving me for dinner and they only could offer me the chicken breast sandwich on ciabatta bun with 3 cheeses, and a fresh fruit bowl, chips, brownie, lettuce and tomato. Would I be okay with that?
Yes, I would be totally okay with that, considering my usual choice is between peanuts and pretzels!
The flight attendant brought me a place mat (how special is that- not to get my tray table dirty!) and then a tray filled with all of this beautifully presented food, complete with real dishes and stainless steel cutlery! I even had a knife! I guess first class passengers can be trusted with knives and will not use it to hijack the plane!

At this point I was overwhelmed with the realization that I didn’t belong here. I did not pay for this first class ticket. I didn’t deserve any of this extra special treatment or this abundance of food and drink. I was an economy class person, not this first class elite passenger. Did they know that I wasn’t really deserving of all of this? Did they know that I felt like I was trying to fool everyone into thinking that I was used to flying first class?

And yet it was all before me- lavished upon me- waiting for me to eat and drink.

I cut my sandwich in two, and was bombarded with the thought of Jesus breaking the bread to pass to his disciples.
Sinful, undeserving disciples.
Not first class, but working class men.
And Jesus was offering them his lavish love, his saving grace, his everlasting food and drink.
I began to weep as I looked at my food and drink.
I did not deserve this and I also did not deserve my Saviors grace in my life.
Just as I am filled with sin and deserve eternal punishment, Jesus offers me his love, his grace, his lavish salvation of my soul so that I can eat from his banquet table, both now in this life and for all eternity.

That sandwich, the cold water in a glass goblet, the fruit bowl, became to me, a Holy Communion supper. The bread of Christ- for me! The blood of Christ- poured out for me!

I will never be the same again, I can never return, I’ve closed the door,
I will walk the path, I’ll run the race, and I will never be the same again.

I am sure that the man sitting next to me could not figure out why this woman was crying and looking out the window as she ate her meal, but I was having a holy moment with my Lord. I did not care. He made new to me the often common way that I have looked at the Lord’s Supper. It is NOT common. It is a holy moment of knowing that I really belong in economy class, or even the luggage bin, and yet He has given me first class status because of grace through Jesus Christ. This has to change me. This has to be told. I cannot keep this ‘secret’ to myself!
After challenging the GEMS women to share the Good News through praying in color for others and giving them the paper, I now felt God leading me instead to write a letter to the flight attendant.
This letter just flowed out of my pen and onto the paper, telling him how thankful I was for how he served me with kindness and abundance. How I had my flights changed that day and that I really didn’t belong in first class. How I was thankful that I would get to my earthly home that night, but that really my final destination was Heaven.
He had asked me if I was an ambassador to Mexico and Brazil. No, I am not, but I am an ambassador for Jesus Christ, I wrote to him. An ambassador loves the country he represents. I love Jesus Christ and I want you to know Him so that your final destination can also be Heaven.

I am praying for this man. I do not know his name. I do not know if I will ever see him again- unless I fly Delta first class again- or hopefully until I see him someday in Heaven.

I am still basking in the unexpected way that God lavishes his love, his surprise visits, his kind and gentle words, his patience, his strength, his challenge into my life, and his ever present grace that will never leave me.