Issue #38
Serve! Spotlight
SE TIP OF THE MONTH
Bluto's Campus Outreach Hints
Ask Dr. Savant
Billy Bob's Movie Reviews
COACHING
Kindness Resources
Video Spotlight
Futurocity
GOLDEN OLDIES
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More question and comments about this article? Send a comment to the Editor and let us know! We may print it in the next issue in "The Mail Room" section.
| Face to Face Airline Outreach? | |
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WILL YOUR NEXT AIRLINE EXPERIENCE BE LIKE THIS? Guess what. . .if you hate air travel, you are not alone. In fact, the future is now. Pretty soon it may get even more cramped and oppressive on those cattle car flights in the not so friendly skies. Several consulting firms are working on ways to cram even more people into those little metal tubes. You can read the original article from The London Telegraph here:  Things are changing--FAST. Decades ago, I took my first flight and was amazed at how well I was treated. In fact, Steve Sjogren was sitting next to me on that first flight and he seemed to get a real hoot out of how easy impressed a hayseed from Ohio like me was over just standard coach service. "These are just the cheap seats--you should travel first class sometime. They give you hot face towels." The flight attendant (they didn't mind being called stewardesses back then) overheard him, as she passed by and a few moments later approached us with a sly smile and gave me one of the steamed towels for my face. It was like a little glimpse of heaven for me. Steve just rolled his eyes and went back to multi-tasking in his seat. He was reading a book and updating his Daytimer--with pen and paper. Years have passed by and we have all seen the wonderful service and personal touches disappear from the airlines as they fight harder and harder to hold their profit margin amidst rising fuel and labor costs. Now you are lucky to get a warm bottle of water and a bag of pretzels thrown at you with a grim look of irritation. In fact, think of your last experience on an air flight. At the same time microwave, computer and cellular technology have made us less patient. In fact, we now live in what I call the "POPCORN AGE." If it requires more effort and time than instantly getting our popcorn with a quick button from space age stoves, we are all put out. when we marry that with cramped conditions and altitude we have a recipe for ugliness. Have you noticed how grumpy everyone seems to be? I have to admit even I, the kindness guy, find myself some what low on grace and my manners do tend to get impaired. Don't even get me started on dunderheads that refuse to check bags and bump into you or crush you with their carry on compressed steamer trunks--they seem to be made out of dark matter. See what I mean? Just thinking about my upcoming trip has me writing in a grouchy tone. Here is the ironic thing. Where else would be a better place to show folks some kindness? Travel weary people, and overworked airline staff are ripe for a touch of God's love. We need to get on it. Any ideas? Send them in (use my email link at the bottom of this article), and we will publish them in the next issue--and maybe even send you a gift if your idea is really good. The Body of Christ should lead the way in making skies a bit more friendly. We need to adapt before change comes. As you can see from the photo above, the new seating arrangements on planes may require folks to face one another--on benches. Are you up to the task of coming up with some kindness ideas for that situation?
 Ken Glassmeyer is the Editor of Serve! Magazine. He has been doing SE outreach in the midwest for over twenty years. Ken is the author of a number of PDF guides available at Kindness Resources including the latest: "Tactical Kindness." You can contact Kindness Resources LLC for more information on having him come to your church to coach, speak or consult. To learn more about Ken, visit his site: SERVACITY | |
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