Keeping it real

While traveling recently, I had the privilege of flying in business class for a leg of the trip. Thankfully, it came after a flight traveled in coach class, which prompted the following reflection:

I must admit a dichotomy in my senses: awe and appreciation for the feeling of limitlessness and pleasure in the taste of luxury; but also, discomfort and disillusionment at the implications, especially in the stark contrast in treatment between coach and business classes.

It is a reminder in humility and staying grounded that the same person can be treated without significance on one flight and waited on hand and foot 4 hours later. If ever there were evidence that money rules our society, it is this situation. Nothing about me has changed in the last four hours, except perhaps the newly acquired (and much-bemoaned) stain on my shirt. And, if anything, in today's image-conscious world, this would make me less likely to be the subject of groveling.

Note to self: Remember this, should you ever be in situations where others esteem you. Attention is fickle and the only thing that could be more uncomfortable than coach class is facing yourself when others' opinion of you deflates and you realize you bought into the illusion of being more important than you are.

A favorite right now ...

Bite-sized inspiration

I don't claim anything of the work. It is His work. I am like a little pencil in His hand. That is all. He does the thinking. He does the writing. The pencil has nothing to do with it. The pencil has only to be allowed to be used.

--Mother Teresa, interviewed by TIME magazine

(on a related note of allowing our gifts to be used for what they were intended to maximum efficiency, check out this video.)