By Heather Gibson

Warning- Confession Included 

Yesterday, I made a same-day round trip from Utah to Arizona and back—dropping off one kitten and picking up another. When you fly with a pet, you’re required to check in at the special services desk both ways.

On my way to Arizona, I stood in a 45-minute line to check in. When I finally reached the front, I looked back and saw the line had grown significantly. I asked if there was anyone else available to help so people wouldn’t miss their flights. As I walked away, I said a prayer that things would move faster and people would get where they needed to go.

Then I patted myself on the back a little. ;-}

When I landed in Arizona, I saw another very long line at the Delta ticketing counter. I soon learned that this was the check-in line. Thankfully, I had a 4-hour layover, so I wasn’t too worried about missing my flight.

I stood there for nearly 3 hours—chatting with others, tossing around ideas about what Delta staff could or should do to speed things up.

At one point, I acknowledged that many of our ideas probably weren’t realistic with how understaffed they were.

But it wasn’t until today in church that it really hit me:
All those ideas we had were possible—if we had offered to help.

I could have stepped up and offered to organize the line—maybe grouped passengers by urgency and helped an agent focus on those with the soonest departures. Boarding a passenger on time is a whole lot faster than rebooking them later.

That sweet family in front of me—with three little girls—might have made it to Boise to see their loved ones, instead of having to come back two days later. One of the girls left crying, heartbroken by the delay.

Instead of just thinking about what others could do, I need to start asking what I can do—proactively, creatively, and with purpose.

Yes, maybe Delta staff would have declined help—but as Leslie Robertson Householder teaches:

“The solution to every problem is only an idea away.”

And with a little inspired thinking and Heaven’s help, I probably could have come up with something that made a difference.

I prayed in Salt Lake for others to make their flights.
But in Phoenix, I didn’t use the talents God gave me to help answer that prayer.

Lesson learned. And hopefully next time, I’ll do better.

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