“Excuse me…that’s my seat…14J…window…sorry.”
My seatmate in 14H had boarded early. He was a veteran. I could tell by the blue Navy Vietnam cap he had already pulled down over his eyes. I thanked him for his service. He never looked up. Cap down. Arms crossed. Exuding a powerful message of “leave me alone.” Message received and understood. I settled into my seat. Put on my headphones and settled in for the 3 hour flight to San Francisco.
“Thank you.” I felt his hand on my arm and looked over at him. “What?” I said. “Thank you for thanking me for my service. I should have acknowledged you,” he said through bleary eyes. I smiled and thanked him again.
He explained that he had gotten up at 3AM to drive to from Louisiana to catch this first flight to San Francisco. He had a long day in front of him. I asked if this trip was business or pleasure. He paused for a moment. “Its family business, but not pleasurable.”
His name was James. I was guessing by the lines of wisdom and experience in his face that he was in his 70s. I asked about his time in the Navy. He told me stories of tragedy and victory. Stories of pain and joy. He left the Navy and went into the construction business. He met his wife there and they had both recently retired. He asked what I did. That is always difficult to answer.
I mentioned that I am a follower of Jesus Christ and generally always involved in some crafty project that helps me follow Him around to see what He is doing. James grimaced at me. “Yippee for you. I don’t believe in God. Not after what I’ve seen. In the war, in the news, around the world, and in my family,” he told me. I smiled and said I understood. I asked if that’s what he meant by how this trip was un-pleasurable family business. He said “Yes, exactly.” He turned away from me staring blankly into the seat back in front of him. I will never forget his words. “I am going to San Francisco to try and find my son.”
James’ son is named Scott. Two years ago Scott lost his job. He became ill. He exhausted his savings. Scott’s shame kept him from asking for help. Scott felt he could pull himself out on his own. Scott soon ended up on the street. James had not heard from him in nearly two years. Unbelievably James boards American flight #23 a few times each month to San Francisco to spend the day walking the hilly streets looking for Scott. He then returns to the airport to catch American #1112 back to Dallas. The red eye. Every two weeks. For two years. More than 100 round trips with nothing but an old photograph and some hope. But not a prayer. There is no God. Remember?
James found Scott once. He was walking down the street in a part of town no one should be and he saw him. He ran to him. They both cried. They got a cup of coffee and caught up. James surprised Scott’s mom and put him on the phone. James teared up telling me about that conversation. Can you imagine? Then Scott became anxious, nervous. Perhaps the shame was catching up to him. Scott stood up and walked out. That was two years ago. The next week James got back on a plane and tried again. Unbelievable.
I asked James, “I know you don’t believe in God, but do you have any memories of reading any bible stories as a child?” I asked him if he had ever heard of the story of the Prodigal Son? He said no. I smiled. “May I tell you a story?”
I read Luke 15 to him. The story of the young prodigal son who left to pursue life on his own. The story of the father sitting on the porch every day looking for him. The story of how the father saw his son walking towards him one day and went running to him. “That’s what I did,” James said. “When I saw Scott I ran to him! I didn’t care why he left. I just wanted to hold him and welcome him back!”
We talked for 3 hours. When we were landing I offered to pray. “That would mean the world to me but don’t pray too hard for me to find Scott…I don’t want to be disappointed,” James told me. I laughed and told him “I haven’t told you what I’m going to be praying for.” He seemed confused.
James, I prayed fervently that the Lord would lead you to find Scott on this trip. I also prayed that you would find a bit more of yourself too. But my most passionate prayer was that as you were walking the streets looking for Scott that you would find God.
Scott, I pray for God’s provision, safety, and care upon you. I pray for God to bring your father and you together again. I pray for God to bring someone in to your life that can give you hope and love. Someone to remind you that your heavenly Father loves you even more than your earthly father.
What an amazing gift the Lord gave me. An opportunity to see so much love. So much grace. So much mercy. To see in James’ eyes the hope of seeing his son again. Imagining the look in Scott’s eyes when he saw the father he thought must have forgotten him. And through James’ eyes be able to imagine the look in God’s when we come home to Him again. When we come back to God after a journey in our life when we thought we could live without Him. And when we do come home to see Him running towards us. Not caring why we left…only that we came back home.
- Will you pray for them with me?
- Have you ever felt that way about someone? “I don’t care about the details…I just want to hold you again?”
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