Tag Archives: airlines

Your Flight is Cancelled

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WEEKEND THOUGHTS: A little departure from the normal comments on Scripture:

With a big pleasant smile the agent said, “Your flight is cancelled.”   What?!  She was so cheery I thought I misunderstood.

A volcano in Iceland was spewing ash so Jana and I weren’t going to be able to get from Athens to Berlin.  Being stuck in Athens is a pretty good way to “suffer for Jesus” but we did have missionaries waiting for us in Berlin.  I couldn’t help but think how tiny our world is and how very microscopic we humans are.  One little mound of dirt and rock in Iceland was affecting an untold number of lives thousands of miles away.  All our magnificent technology was disabled, grounded, till an unseen mountain decided to release it.

We don’t often get reminded of our frailty as humans.  We usually avoid situations that remind us of it.  It is easy to marvel at the great accomplishments of man. It is easy to think we are powerful, evolving into some super race of invincible creatures.

Then the earth “burps” and cities crumble in seconds due to the earthquake.  A resulting tsunami rushes across the globe washing lives into eternity.  A mountain erupts and air traffic is halted around the world.  How tiny and frail we truly are in this vast universe of ours.
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Job 14:1-2
“Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.


SIT UP STRAIGHT, PLEASE!

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WEEKEND THOUGHTS: A little departure from the normal comments on Scripture:

Jana and I recently flew on Swiss Air and, while the crew were very friendly, their in-flight magazine was not so warm.  The final article in the magazine was entitled, in all capital letters, bold text and complete with exclamation point, “SIT UP STRAIGHT, PLEASE!”

The title and the emphatic all caps and exclamation point piqued my attention. As I glanced at the first paragraph, I couldn’t believe it.  The article was scolding passengers like little children.  What a difference between Swiss culture and US culture!  Let me share some actual quotes and see if it is just me or if you agree this is a little weird.

“When the crew welcomes you aboard, make a point of greeting them back: they are, after all, your bosses for the next couple of hours.”

“Sit down carefully and switch off your mobile phone.  Only a total slave to their existence needs to chat away with friends till the very last moment.”

“Sit up straight! Aircraft seats are just not built for lounging in.”
NOTE: Yes, the exclamation point is in the original text.

“Listen attentively to the crew’s safety presentation without yawning like some mileage billionaire. Buckle up before being asked to.”

“Stay in the same mode until you’ve reached cruising altitude.  You may now doze if you wish. Or read. Or working a little is OK.  But, remember where you are.”

The last sentence of the article, again complete with exclamation point, “Have a good flight!”

Achtung! Yes, sir! I will have a good flight as ordered.  Are you sure I can get permission to do a little work now sir, if I am careful to remember where I am and if I sit up straight the entire time? I only hope my flying on your airline today did not in some way inconvenience you.  If it did, please beat me with my cell phone.

Wow!  Can you imagine how such an article would be received in the US?  Am I just nuts or is this over the top?