September 12, 2021
It was an early July morning in Split, Croatia as I boarded the plane for my return to Canada. Small problem: getting my heavy carryon luggage to the plane meant going down one flight of stairs and up another.
One item I always “pack” is my ability to ask for help. I asked a young man in the line if he could lift my bag on the stairs, then stow it in the overhead compartment. Ollie cheerfully agreed and when we arrived in Munich for our connecting flight, he found a seating area for me so I could wait and he held my place in the long line. Clearly, he knew how to think ahead and serve someone else.
I also “pack” my love of asking people questions. With this I found out that he was the eldest of four children, and his youngest sister was born when he was sixteen. When his parents went out, he was often asked to be “in charge.”
This responsibility really served to increase his “ability to respond” in future situations. Like graciously helping me at the airport.
God bless him for taking initiative to serve a stranger.
