Oxygen, please

In 1989, I flew from Florida to Rhode Island to attend a friend’s wedding. Not an unusual distance in this day and age nor an unfamiliar reason to travel this distance.  I didn’t go alone. I traveled with my then 4-month-old and his 17-month-old sister. And It was just me…with them…

Now, I don’t know about you but do you ever look back and think to yourself how in the world did I ever do that?  It seems unbelievable now. I flew with a baby in a front pack and one in a backpack and bags in both hands. I can still remember people not just giving me a wide berth as we would say in the Navy but jumping back out of my way at the airport.

For a moment put yourself in my situation. You are on the airplane with those two little babies. One in a car seat and the other on your lap. (Remember this was 30 years ago!). Let’s for a moment do what we are so good at. Let’s use our imagination muscle to worry. Let’s worry for a second or two that not too hard for us to do.

Imagine you are on that plane with those two little babies and an emergency light comes on, you feel the plane shudder and tip… an attendant stands up and makes the announcement that we are going thru some really rough weather but it seems worse than that…it seems like a crisis, and you are already in decision mode. Who to help first, the 17-month-old or her baby brother? Where do you turn? Who do you get to first?

What a dilemma. What choice do you make first? But wait, actually, there is an incredibly obvious first course of action and unless you are very familiar with this act of flying it would seem pretty counterintuitive. There is one primary course of action. And you can guess what that the first action step is? What is it?

Let’s rewind the tape before the engine shudder and before the plane began to tip and dip. Let’s recall the instructions, everyone …EVERYONE…everyone who gets on a passenger airline receives immediately once the attendants closed the door and we were all buckled up.

You and I received a pre-flight safety briefing that included not just words but also a demonstration. I would say a  presentation. A speech. And it goes something like this…

“Now we request your full attention as the flight attendants demonstrate the safety features of this aircraft”.   (They have to ask you for your attention)

If you are travelling with a child or someone who requires assistance, secure your mask on first, and then assist the other person.

And like a lot of speeches… if

We hear it so much we ignore it. If we hear it so much we don’t. Unless we are paying attention.

Pay attention.

I was told to take the air mask first. I was told before I can help another person, I have to be sure I can be a help.

It seems the most obvious of life decisions but the hardest to stay mindful of. So today, I am reminding you. If you want to help others including the next generation remember no matter the role you serve in; teachers need teaching, coaches need coaching, mentors need mentoring, and yes, parents need parenting.

We who want to influence our students, our adult children,  our marriages, other parents, our church or our global community need positive influencers in our life. We need help to grow.  It is being part of growing and being part of an intentional community.

The people you love, their success is tied to your own healthy growth. This is one of the most important contributions you can make to other people. I have been flying for quite a while. Is your air mask on?