When I grow up, I want to be somebody cool. I want to speak lots of different languages so that when I travel I can order fancy foods and be mistaken for a local. I want to be able to speak intelligently about politics and literature and matters of the faith. I want to be well dressed, to look like at any moment I could sign off on a business deal that will save the world and then be ready to go out with the girls as the ink dries. I want to be involved in saving lives, somehow making the world a better place.
Today, I had the honor of sitting next to a man who was all of these things.
As Faith and I sat down, we were discussing what the plane food of the day would be, making bets with Dave and Kacie behind us about whether it would be vada (the jalapeno doughnuts) or itli (a white, thick, flavorless pancake drenched in curry). The man in the aisle seat sat silently, staring straight ahead, as we took off, but as the stewardesses started passing out juices, he asked where we were from, since clearly we weren’t Indian but we had a knowledge of Indian foods.
Over the remainder of the two hour flight, he amazed us with his knowledge of everything. Literally, EVERYTHING. He could speak intelligently on almost every single obscure city in America we asked him about. He knew almost 15 languages and how they related to almost every other language in the world. He’s been to about 40 countries and spoken at many universities in the States (including George Mason University). He also taught at the best tennis academy in the States. He spoke of his family (his son is in medical school in Texas) and his plans for the future. He grew up in a refugee camp but got out and is now the CEO of a major electric company being bought by GE, then when the merger ends he’s not going to retire, he’s going to work with NGOs to help with various refugee relief programs. He’s read the Bible, the Quran, different Hindu scriptures and studied religion extensively. He listened with interest as I shared the Gospel (he didn’t quite have it straight), and we discussed the problem of hypocrites in the church.
This man was not only a wealth of information, but he was more than willing to share. He didn’t do it in an obnoxious, self-obsessed way, rather, he engaged us in conversation, letting us ask about the countries we were going to and sharing his experiences, never lecturing or being long winded, often cracking cheesy dad jokes. He was exactly the kind of man you’d want for your grandfather.
When I grow up, I want to be like this man. I want to converse in other languages so I’m not restricted to an English audience. I want to be someone who can speak intelligently without insulting the intelligence of my listeners. I want to look the part of grown up who has it together, but not so uptight that spilling a little curry on my shirt is the end of the world. I want to not only save lives, but equip others to do the same.
When I grow up, I want to look back on my life and see all of the ways God has worked in it and through it, how He’s touched lives and trained disciples and raised a generation of radicals who are so excited to serve the Lord with their own lives.
I don’t know when I’ll grow up, but it looks like it’s time for me to get started on becoming this person, so that when I do, I’ll be able to share my stories with two weary travellers on a plane.
