Airport Breakfast

Airports are confusing places.
There are rules about checking luggage, going through the security checkpoint, and boarding the plane. There are passengers of all nationalities and backgrounds. There are employees from all different nationalities and backgrounds. The constant chatter and background noise can be disorienting. Clear communication can be a struggle.

On my latest flying experience (which was a 6:20 A.M. flight) I found the most confusing place of all: The breakfast line at the Whitt’s Barbecue in concourse C, Nashville International Airport.

I'm a Southern boy. I know what a Southern breakfast is. I've had my share of biscuits. Therefore, when I approach a smorgasbord of eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits, potatoes, and gravy, I'm not the least bit confused about what to do: I eat!

This is where airports get confusing for other folks, though. It was taking a while for the line to move, and I was eavesdropping on the orders of the people in front of me. It quickly became apparent why the line was stationary; Some of these folks had never seen a biscuit and gravy!

If you've never noticed, ”breakfast food” selections vary dramatically from region to region, and certainly from country to country. Some eat biscuits, others eat bagels. Some eat toast, others eat muffins. Some have gravy, others have butter, and some have both!

As I listened to the unsure voices of those ordering their fare (in various accents), I was struck by the thought of just how different some people’s lives are from mine. Even a good ’ole country breakfast (that we might take for granted) is foreign to them. I noticed how hard it was for me to keep from thinking unnecessarily judgmental thoughts about how ”silly” they are because they don't know what a sausage and biscuit is.

I also considered this: Despite our differing backgrounds, The same God I love and serve will be the same God we will both answer to on the day of judgment (Romans 14:11-12). The truth is that no matter how different we may be on this earth, we both have one thing eternally in common; We both have a soul.

God shows no partiality to any group of people (Acts 10:34), and neither should I when it comes to the Gospel. No matter how different I am from a person, I have no right to ”judge” them unworthy of the Gospel of Christ (cf. Titus 2:11).

You see, God intended to break down social, economic, and cultural barriers in Christ. Paul wrote,

"Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all" (Colossians 3:11, ESV).

While we may put walls up in the context of society, God doesn't when it comes to the truth, and even to the Church. We sometimes go about looking for people who are ”like” us to share the Gospel with. It is a lot more comfortable to share God’s word with someone who is ”like” you, and who you identify with than it is to do the same with a stranger.

The bottom line, though, is this: It may make you uncomfortable, but you and I have a God given responsibility to share the saving message with all - even if they aren't just ”like” you and me. Will you?

-Daniel