During a recent trip to the airport, the famous lines from the Serenity Prayer came to mind:

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.”

The airport environment is just one great example from our every day lives where we need the serenity to accept the things we cannot change and the courage to change the things we can. For the hurried traveler, encountering the TSA Security Lines can be a spot where things feel out of control.

It reminds me of childhood days of waking up and fighting with your parents about not wanting to go to school. Some of you may be having those very same arguments with your kids right now! Without fail, the daily dialogue always ended with a phrase that went something like this, “You don’t get to choose whether you go to school, it’s the law.”

Even for the child who enjoyed going to school, the notion that you had NO choice in the matter was confusing and frustrating.

As I watch the Security Lines in our airports, I wonder whether we are approaching them with the same youthful confusion and frustration. Are we spending too much mental energy on “why do we have to do this”?

We know the experience from our end, but do we ever appreciate the view from the other side? Recently I spent 5 minutes chatting with a TSA worker about the experience from their perspective. This is what was shared with me (by a very nice woman):

• “It gets frustrating because people don’t seem to understand or respect that we have a job to do and that we don’t make the rules.”

• “90% of the people coming through the lines are actually pretty good, but the 10% that are bad, they are REALLY, REALLY not very nice.”

• “It’s interesting to watch people move through the process because they often just follow the person in front of them – without thinking very much.”

Perhaps it would do us all some good if we were able to release the need to fight the system with those that don’t create the structure. If the person behind us is going to follow what we do, maybe we should start with gratitude and compassion. That we can control.

After all, we can still have nap time on the plane.

Jason Barger, 11-time Amor leader and author of the book, Step Back from the Baggage Claim:  Change the World, Start at the Airport

A few years back, I was introduced to the book The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. He offers these sacred agreements as a way for us to bring our best into the world on a daily basis:

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“What we see depends mainly on what we look for.” – John Lubbock

When we turn on the television today, open a newspaper, or view the homepage of a national news source, all we hear about is a struggling economy, a perpetual war, pirates that  are attacking our boats, steroids, and a mysterious swine flu. Wherever we turn, the view we continue to receive of our world is one of doom and gloom.

Right now, our nation and our world is experiencing a Step Back from the Baggage Claim. In the midst of the chaos of every day life, so many people are going different directions with different agendas and all are trying to “claim” what is “theirs” from the passing conveyer belt. We all are being challenged in our personal lives and businesses to  see things differently.

We’re stepping back and realizing that everything we thought we knew isn’t exactly working anymore. We’re stepping back to gain a different perspective about how our actions and modes of operation fit into a changing world. We’re being challenged to step back, make room for other people, and create space in our lives so hopefully a greater spirit can emerge.

As we Step Back from the Baggage Claim in our lives and businesses, we realize that opportunity, joy, and gratitude still very much exist despite the doom and gloom we’re surrounded by. When we are able to bypass the fear of what is out of our control and the fixation on what we believe to be “ours”, we are liberated to see the world through new eyes. We see the freedom of our individual actions. We experience the power of our own creativity. We realize that much good can still be actualized everyday in our lives and in the world. We realize we still control the spirit we choose to bring to the obstacles in our lives.

We all share in the creation of today. It just depends on what we choose to look for. Today, what do you want to look for and create in our world?

- Jason Barger, 11-time Amor leader and author of the book, Step Back from the Baggage Claim:  Change the World, Start at the Airport.

Her sweet Tennessee accent sliced through the falling snow flurries and background sounds of hustling cars eager to get home on a cold Columbus evening.  Our group stood on the side of the road, shivering together, and handing warmly packed meals and blankets to our friends.  Her name was Vicky.  She was originally from Nashville and this winter was my first time meeting her.

Vicky explained that she and her husband had fallen on rough times.  The loss of jobs and other unfortunate happenings had left them on the streets as winter drew closer each day.  The search to secure new jobs became an even bigger challenge with limited transportation and their newly homeless status.  After weeks living on the streets, her husband has now secured a part-time job; providing just enough funds to afford them a nightly motel and temporary space to call home.  100% of their income was going toward this immediate shelter need, hence Vicky huddling on the streets to receive a meal.

As the steam from each cold breath hovered between us, Vicky giggled with such innocence as she shared with me, “My husband and I feel so lucky because we know there are a lot more people out here in worse situations than us.  We’re very fortunate.”  Her words were immersed in gratitude.

That night, as I pulled my cozy comforter overtop of me in my warm bed, Vicky’s words had me listing all of the things I have to be thankful for right now in life.  Thanksgiving had arrived a week early.  I wondered, what would it mean for the other 364 days of the year if we could begin each day with that same Thanksgiving gratitude?  I look forward to trying.

Thank you, Vicky.

“I have come so you may have life, and have it abundantly.” – John: 10:10

Jason Barger is an 11-time Amor Mission Trip leader who has connected over 1700 people to build 120 houses in Mexico. As the former Director of Camp Akita in Ohio, he designed and implemented programs for over 1900 kids a summer centered on faith, love, service and leadership. Jason’s experience with servant-leadership led him to the creation of First Community Church’s Streets Mission Project to serve the homeless of Columbus, Ohio as well as mission trips to the Casa Hogar Sion Orphanage in Tijuana and the Village Mountain Mission project in the Dominican Republic. Jason is the author of the book Step Back from the Baggage Claim: Change the World, Start at the Airport and spends most of his time today serving, writing, speaking and consulting for organizations looking to bring about positive change. Jason, his wonderful wife, Amy, and their two sons, Will and Benton, currently live in Columbus, Ohio. To connect with Jason, please visit www.stepbackfromthebaggageclaim.com