I LOVE AIRPORTS

As I settle into my O R Tambo mugg n bean chair, switch on my laptop
and check my latest social networking feeds, I realize how many of my
contacts are in the process of doing exactly what Im doing -
travelling. What grabs my attention, however, is the general dislike
of airports. I've always been a bit of a different breed, but I can't
share the 'anti-airport' sentiment. (For the purposes of this blog
we'll pretend East London has a proper Airport)

Where else do we find such a variety of cultures, languages, ages,
races, economics, belief systems, dreams and goals? Each passenger
travelling for unique reasons.

Yet despite all the differences represented  by the thousands of
passengers who walk through our airports each day, there's an unspoken
realization that right now, right here, we're all in the same boat.

The lady sitting opposite me is travelling to a funeral. The guy on
his phone at the table near me (who clearly does this often - he
brought an extention chord so he can sit on the comfy chairs with his
laptop instead of where I'm at) is clearly on a business trip, and the
group of rather athletic looking girls in their SA tracksuits are
obviously heading somewhere on a sports tour. We're all so different,
yet we all know that regardless of the differences that separate us
right now, in 45 minutes time we'll each be allocated the exact same**
amount of space on the plane, we'll breathe the same germs, eat the
same food, watch the same cheesy safety video, struggle to hear the
same pilot over the PA system... And the list goes on.

For the next 90 minutes Ill be nothing more than 'man in seat 9D', but
as I step into that airport again, I get to choose to me myself again.
I'm no longer in the same boat as 'weird looking girl in seat 8F' or
'overweight insecure dude in seats 17 A & B'. I am reminded as I step
into the airport that I am unique!

"For we are God's workmanship [unique work of art] created in Christ
Jesus for good works [cf Jer 29:11] which HE created us in advance to
do" (Eph 2:10).

I love airports!

M.

** as it turns out we don't share exactly the same space as my seat is
clearly bigger, with more leg room than most of the other passengers,
but u get the drift...

Sent from iPhone 3G

WORLD CHANGER

After a few months of inactivity (or, rather too much activity) I've started thinking about the concept of "World Changers" for a monthly article, and thought it would be great to get some views on what your concept of a world changer is. I believe it lies completely in what exactly the term "world" means to you.

If we look at 'world' in it's larger context, we will no doubt agree that the inventors of the car, electricity, phones and the like were world changers. If we look at the arts, we will most likely agree that the Elvis's, Beatles, and most recently MJ's had a 'world changing effect'.

I'm more inclined to look at my world, however. My world is the only world I know. I have no real concept or experience of your world. I might be able to relate to your description of your world, and may even share certain parts of it - but it's your world, not mine. So when it comes to 'World Changers'- we will most likely have some different views.

But I can quite confidently say that in my world, my car guard at gym - the guy who never asks for money, but is quick to crit my lastest sermon and my dirty car - is a world changer. I can say that my wife, who has brought a whole other level of experiencing and sharing life with me, is a world changer. I can say that the person who anonymously paid for my supper is a world changer. I can say that the SA idol finalist whose contagious vibe and sarcasm allowed me to be myself this past weekend, is a world changer. I can say that my friend, studying in chiro in Durban who always has a smile on his face and who 'lives the dream' every day, is a world changer. And my list could, and does, go on! These people may mean nothing to you - but to me, they are world changers.

So the question is: who are YOUR world changers?