People Watching

These last few days Joe and I have been at the airport several times.  Which allows me to do something I enjoy doing; people watching.  Watching people as they wait for loved ones, friends, co-workers, or the stranger they were tasked to fetch from the airport is interesting study of people and how they interact. 

I enjoy watching people as they exit the doors of the secure into the area where everyone is waiting for those arriving.  I also enjoy watching those waiting.  Two children between the ages of 7 and 12 gave what appeared to be their dad a tackle hug when he emerged from the sliding doors.  Others greeted their loved ones with flowers, balloons, and signs.  Some were greeted with running hugs and others with a simple handshake.  Still others were greeted with a sign with their name on it and person tasked to drive them to their resting place or their next adventure.  It is also interesting to watch those that are arriving.  Some walk confidently knowing who is picking them up and where they are, others are returning home and their car that is parked somewhere at the airport. Others are clearly exhausted from their travels and unsure of where they are and who is picking them up. Others arrive in large groups expectant and ready to start their mission work, service project or vacation. Others look around excitedly for the family members they haven’t seen in days, months, even years.

My favorite is watching kids as they wait for someone to come out of the doors.  There was one little boy while I was waiting that was clearly very excited about being at the airport.  As people exited with their carts of luggage he would run in front of them as if he was racing them or as if they were chasing him. The look on his face as he repeatedly “played” with the passing strangers was fun to watch. Some would play along and really act they were chasing him, others would smile at him and his family waiting nearby, some would ignore him, some were frustrated with him, and others looked around for the person responsible for him.  No matter the reaction of the person before he kept this big smile on his face and he would circle back and greet the next passenger with his chasing game.  Generally no words were exchanged except for the laughter of a little boy making the most of the minutes and hours spent waiting.

As I was sitting and waiting and watching I was reminded that all of us are faced with choices. Just the same as those arriving to Johannesburg had a choice in how they reacted to that little boy.  We all have a choice in how in react to the situations, people, challenges and triumphs each day. 

1 Thessalonians 16-18, reminds us to “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

So today whatever your situation try to choose joy.  Smile and laugh at the little boy passing time playing a game.  Even when the storm clouds are looming chose to find a silver lining in the clouds. Find something everyday to be thankful for, to smile about, to find joy in.  When we do that slowly it becomes easier to find more joy..

Until next time: Just because your toddler chooses something off the menu doesn’t mean that he won’t change his mind in the short time it takes to make said food choice.  I never really understood the saying “you can lead a horse to water but can’t make them drink” until I had a toddler…