This week I've been thinking about crowds... and plain words-- and while flying about I saw a lot of the former, and occasionally heard a few of the latter.

I noticed that airline customer service levels are a lot like the awards on the TV reality show "Toddlers and Tiaras". Have you seen it? A gaggle of little girls with big hair and cheering moms compete in an otherwise empty hotel ballroom for a plethora of titles. And here's where the airline observation comes in: The membership perks, like the tiara titles, don't really seem to mean much of anything. As we were boarding, the agent would call for "Platinum, Grand Premiere, Starline Gold, Medallion, and Preferred Access" members who, in the end, were allowed to board the overcrowded tin can slightly before me, plus they got to walk across a blue doormat rather than my red one.

But as everyone began the painful process of jamming themselves into the aircraft-- no matter whether they were "Platinum" or base metal members-- you could occasionally hear some plain words: "Please, you first," or "Can I help you with that?" It was good to hear.

Last Sunday, when we were reading about crowd of people surrounding Jesus when He healed the woman with the issue of blood, my mind went back to that airport scene. Some in the crowd just behaved like a crowd; others took time to interact with individuals-- to bless those around them. Augustine once said of that passage of Scripture, "Few are they who by faith touch him; multitudes are they who throng about him."

Take some time to read the Ancient-Future Quote to Note about "Plain Words" just down below. And, this week, do some thinking about crowds and plain words. There may be some fellow passengers-- folks in the crowd-- who need a healing touch.

Now, return your seat backs and your tray tables to their full upright and locked position.

The Lord be with you!

Pastor Chris

Image above, left: "I Shall Be Whole", Al Young. Copyright by Al Young. All Rights Reserved. Courtesy of Al Young Studios.