I took a shuttle today from my Atlanta hotel to the airport. Clarissa was my driver and I seemed to be the only passenger. When I asked her how she was, it was clear that she was not having a good day. The van that she was driving broke down yesterday and she was told that it needed major work. To make things worse, she needed to walk 90 minutes this morning to get to work.
We started talking about her life, family, passions, God’s will, and during the discussion, she became teary. She loved working with juvenile delinquents and had worked at the local detention center for about eight years. Unfortunately, she had fallen asleep on the job and was terminated. At the time, she was in school to get a degree and was also working two jobs. She talked about needing to make $12-$13/hour and if she could do that, she’d be golden. She apologized for getting teary and commented: “I’ve never gotten teary with anyone before.” I responded back: “yea, I seem to have that effect on people…..”
I encouraged her to call her former employer; ask for an in-person meeting, and to discuss her passion for helping the children. As she was describing to me what she would say to them, and lessons she would try and teach them, it was clear how much she cared about them and how her life experience helped her to create a powerful rapport. I gave her my card and asked her to call me to update me on what she did. We hugged farewell and before we parted, she notified me that the call would be from a “567” exchange.
I will admit to being on a small high as a result of our brief interchange. David Steindl-Rast, the monk who narrates Louie Schwartzberg’s “Simple Gratitude,” advises us to “be a blessing.” This morning, I believed that I was able to do just that.
As I entered the airport, I went into a store to ask directions to a restaurant that friends had advised me was a “not-to-be-missed” experience. The clerk looked at my boarding pass and notified me that I had Pre-TSA check in! I had not noticed that and would have spent 15-20 minutes in line, waiting to go through security! She told me where the restaurant was and gave me directions to the Pre-TSA check point. I felt like a VIP as I was informed that I didn’t need to take off my shoes; didn’t need to take off my vest; could leave my laptop in my bag, and went right through with NO WAIT!
I’m sure those who saw me were wondering why I had this large grin on my face! The real reason for my grin was less about going through Pre-TSA check in, and more about how amazing the universe is and how quickly it can respond…. if we pay attention and notice. Thanks, Clarissa and God bless!
We started talking about her life, family, passions, God’s will, and during the discussion, she became teary. She loved working with juvenile delinquents and had worked at the local detention center for about eight years. Unfortunately, she had fallen asleep on the job and was terminated. At the time, she was in school to get a degree and was also working two jobs. She talked about needing to make $12-$13/hour and if she could do that, she’d be golden. She apologized for getting teary and commented: “I’ve never gotten teary with anyone before.” I responded back: “yea, I seem to have that effect on people…..”
I encouraged her to call her former employer; ask for an in-person meeting, and to discuss her passion for helping the children. As she was describing to me what she would say to them, and lessons she would try and teach them, it was clear how much she cared about them and how her life experience helped her to create a powerful rapport. I gave her my card and asked her to call me to update me on what she did. We hugged farewell and before we parted, she notified me that the call would be from a “567” exchange.
I will admit to being on a small high as a result of our brief interchange. David Steindl-Rast, the monk who narrates Louie Schwartzberg’s “Simple Gratitude,” advises us to “be a blessing.” This morning, I believed that I was able to do just that.
As I entered the airport, I went into a store to ask directions to a restaurant that friends had advised me was a “not-to-be-missed” experience. The clerk looked at my boarding pass and notified me that I had Pre-TSA check in! I had not noticed that and would have spent 15-20 minutes in line, waiting to go through security! She told me where the restaurant was and gave me directions to the Pre-TSA check point. I felt like a VIP as I was informed that I didn’t need to take off my shoes; didn’t need to take off my vest; could leave my laptop in my bag, and went right through with NO WAIT!
I’m sure those who saw me were wondering why I had this large grin on my face! The real reason for my grin was less about going through Pre-TSA check in, and more about how amazing the universe is and how quickly it can respond…. if we pay attention and notice. Thanks, Clarissa and God bless!
RSS Feed
