CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – I flew from Milwaukee to New York City earlier this month. The rudeness on the plane was disturbing.
My flight was delayed about an hour. It wasn’t full. One passenger, an adult, was moving from one seat to another as we were boarding. The flight attendant told us “we cannot push back from the gate until everyone is seated and buckled.” Another passenger told the seat-jumper to “sit the f— down, a—hole” The two men, face to face in the tight quarters of an airplane, began cursing at each other. After a few intense moments, everyone did take their seats and off we went.
The same man who couldn’t take his seat was involved in another incident at the end of the flight. It was an accident. While taking his luggage out of the overhead bin, he clunked another passenger in the head. And instead of apologizing, he told the other man that he was in his way and if he’d moved faster, it wouldn’t have happened.
As a bystander, it’s pathetic to see adults who can’t speak civilly to each other, and somehow can’t utter the words “I’m sorry.”
A child can tell you the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Those are Christ’s words from the Sermon on The Mount. A child could have resolved the problems on the plane. Be courteous to others. Don’t use bad language. Say you’re sorry.
The Bible also explains why we should be kind to each another: “Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ.” As Christians, we are a forgiven people. And knowing God’s blessed assurance and grace, let it be easy for us to be kind to one another.
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