His name was Rick. There I was sitting on an airplane, the last flight of the day before I would finally reach my destination: Orlando, FL. We were coming from Nashville and had a 2 hour flight ahead of us. Of course, the flight was full so I was forced to sit in a middle seat. Aka: the most uncomfortable seat ever. Lest I forget I am not supposed to be comfortable... I picked a seat between to normal looking men. One of them was an employee, the other--come to find out--a musician. Anyway, the entire flight consisted of the usually. Headphones in, book out. But not just any book, The Ragamuffin Gospel. It has taken me an exceedingly amount of time to read this book because it is so full. So full of information and spiritual slaps in the face, if you know what I mean. I read my book most of the flight. The guys next to me did the same. At one point, I took out my headphones to order my drink. The musician talked to me about how his daughter still parties in Florida and she's 24. Being the tired and lazy human being that I am, I hurried to end the convo and go back to my book. Typical tunnel vision.
It was about time to start our descent to Orlando and I got tired of reading and was forced to put up my headphones. I hadnt even had my headphones out for 2 minutes, when the other guy next to me opened up our beautiful conversation with, "I was looking at your book, and I noticed it was about God and Grace.." And so our 25min conversation that I will never forget, began.
He told me about a book he was reading about an atheist who decided one day there isnt a way in hell that this world, our intricate bodies, nature, color, everything--just sprouted up out of the blue. There had to have been someone creating it. We talked about how we don't understand how people still dont believe and they live in the same world we do. There is no way you can look at the stars, the sunset, or a heart and deny our God.
He shared with me a little of his testimony.. He said about 28 years ago, he was in a dark hotel room with a girl he didnt know, beer and drugs surrounding him. He said he could have sworn it was God himself asking him what he was doing with his life. He said he got up from the bed, and never looked back. He started going to AA and turned his life around. He told me other funny and "ironic" coincidences in AA that makes him laugh now looking back.. He said now he realizes it was just a matter of time before he was in AA, and God made it clear. He's been sober ever since. But life hasnt been easy. He told me of his brothers death about 2 years ago, and how his nephew commited suicide not even a year ago. His wife's brother was just put in jail for being a pedophile, which turned his wife into an alcoholic. He said it's only by the grace of God that Rick and his wife are still sane. He told me its so beautiful to watch how the horrible, disgusting things in our life or our past is turned into the good. Only by the grace of God.
I told him a little about myself and how The Ragamuffin Gospel has really made me in awe of the mercy and grace of God. I've always understood it, but this book was really putting it into perspective. I let him read a little of it, and he would giggle a few times.. He told me is funny how a 19 year is reading a book about things he didnt even learn about till he was in his thirties. I told him I take absolutely no credit for that! Like we said before, only by the grace of God.
I told him about Young Life, and he said he applauded me. He said he had never heard of it, but just from what I told him, he said he loved it.
We exchanged names, and he told me, "I will be praying for you Lauren. Everyday. What you're doing is something extraordinary. You deserve all the help you can get."
I deserve nothing. After reading this book, I'm a little more broken for Christ. (If not completely broken). Before, I hated being broken. I hated how I didnt have it put together.Theres this girl I know who always says, "I wish I had your perfect life." "You have it all." SHUT UP. The only reason I have anything, is all because the Lord has given it to me. And perfect?? If you know me, at all, you would know I'm far from it. But now... I've found the beauty of being broken. "To be alive is to be broken. And to be broken is to stand in need of grace."- Brennan Manning.
So there you have it. Probably one of the best plane rides of my life. Can you imagine how awesome that plane ride would have been if I wouldnt have stayed in my comfort zone until the last 25 minutes of the flight? I began to think about what if the world ended tomorrow.. and before I know it there I am standing in front of my Savior. Recalling all the times I was in my comfort zone when I shouldnt have been. Yeah... scary, right? If you dont feel a sense of urgency after thinking about that, then I don't think you fully accept the gift we are given.
I recommend The Ragamuffin Gospel... It may change your life. Or you could be open to letting others change your life.
His name was Rick, and I think he changed my life.
