In reading two blog articles (in fact, one right after the other), both authors commented about flight attendants.

Big plane, lots of flight attendants

Jeff Goins wrote, “Not too long ago, I was traveling and came across a rude flight attendant. This woman was clearly jaded about her job.”

A simple recounting:

Crappy attitude.

Uncomfortable passengers.

An experience to forget.

Peter King, in his weekly “Monday Morning Quarterback” post, wrote, “Found myself on a Delta flight from Newark to Atlanta Saturday, and the bouncy, incredibly happy flight attendant greeted everyone with a huge hello or welcome as we boarded the full flight.”

Perky, upbeat attitude.

Happy passengers.

An experience to remember.

For both Jeff Goins and Peter King, their flight attendants left impressions. And for me, between the two flights, I would have preferred the Delta flight from Newark to Atlanta. I like perky, upbeat over crappy (I may be weird but I’m not stupid).

Both flight attendants remind me of Jesus’ words to a particular church—the people, not the building. “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16 NIV).

Let me rephrase Jesus’ words (not a practice I would recommend nor one I’d make into a habit; I would add this warning. Please do not attempt this while unsupervised at home).

Okay, back to rephrasing.

“I know you’re a flight attendant, that you are neither jaundiced nor jubilant. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are bland—neither spicy nor frosty—I am about to kick you off the plane.”

If I understand Him right, Jesus would prefer a bad attitude to no attitude at all.

Elie Wiesel wrote, “The opposite of love is not hate; it’s indifference.”

Jack Kerouac said, “If moderation is a fault, then indifference is a crime.”

I’m not that well read (although I have read Weisel’s Night); I just know how to Google “indifference quotes.” I found the above statements at goodread.com.

When I think of facing a holy, star-breathing God, I don’t think indifferent would describe my response. Who can be “how’s-it-going-dude” casual when standing in the middle of smoke, fire, shaking foundations, and shouting angels (see Isaiah 6)?

I think Jesus prefers a disgruntled, disillusioned authenticity to a polite-but-faux faith.

With the Samaritan woman at the well (see John 4) in mind, I think a person who’s dissatisfied, depressed, struggling, and asking difficult questions will find a greater happiness in the Lord when she discovers “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

I’m curious. Do you know someone who has grumbled against God (now I have the Moses-led Israelites in my head)? How do you think the Lord would handle the grumbler?

Top 3 Posts the past week:

Does Your Competitive Streak Sometimes Kill the Joy of Community?

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