When God offers an upgrade

I always expect the worst. That way, bad outcomes are never as bad as what I imagined. And when the worst does happen, at least I get the strange, sad pleasure of saying “I knew it.” My trick is that I keep this whole thought process internal, so people don’t label me as a pessimist.

Last summer, I expected the worst on my 13-hour flight from Hong Kong to Vancouver. It was the first of three connecting flights in my journey back to college in Savannah, Georgia, and I had very tight connections on very cheap airlines. Naturally, I’d already imagined multiple delays, crowded flights, and a missed connection.

But something happened at the start of this journey that changed everything. As I lugged my check-in bag onto the scale, somewhere amidst the usual check-in speech, I heard the words “congratulations” and “upgrade” and “premium”.

“I’m sorry?”

“Congratulations, Ms. Ho. You have been upgraded to premium economy”.

I know it doesn’t sound like much, but when they handed me my new boarding pass, something shifted. This trip didn’t seem quite as long and grueling anymore. I was a new passenger. I was… a premium (economy) passenger.

Normally I arrive at my gate, realize I’m in boarding group 6, and find a magazine store to buy candy at while I wait for the whole plane to board before me. It’s also a good time to take my valuables out of my carry-on because once everyone else has boarded, I usually have to check my bag due to lack of overhead room.

But this time? I was premium.

I didn’t get to board that much earlier. But I did get to walk on the other side of that seat belt-y barrier thing that they pull across to separate the queues. I wanted to make sure I boarded as soon as I could. Because on that plane, there was a premium seat waiting for me.

Premium economy wasn’t that different from economy. You know what I think transformed my flight the most that day? My attitude.

Sometimes when I look at my life’s circumstances, it feels a lot like when I realize I’m in boarding group 6: total permission to check-out. Time to buy candy. Might as well try to find something to enjoy while others board early and sip orange juice out of their fancy champagne glasses.

I had one of those moments last week. There was a special program that I had signed up to be a part of, and those of us wearing stickers were supposed to be called in for it. I was wearing a sticker, but I never got called in. The maximum wait was supposed to be one hour. I waited for an hour and 45 minutes.

Guess what I was thinking the whole time?

I bet they forgot about me.

And guess what I got to say when I finally approached the receptionist without getting called in?

I knew it.

Except, instead of letting me miss out, several facilitators chose to stick around and arrange an additional private session—just for me. I was hesitant to receive the special treatment, but I gave in and took their offer.

One of the staff members must have sensed my “economy-attitude” that day, because he told me that I was “first class to God.” He didn’t know me or that I was catching a flight in a few hours, so I was a little taken back by his confidence and what he said.

The words “first class to God” replayed over and over in my head as I left my private session and headed to the airport. I don’t act like I’m first class. Especially when things don’t work out how I wanted them to or even when they do work out the way I totally imagined they would in my pessimistic foresight, such as having to board last or not getting called in.

I think Jesus must have sensed this same “economy-attitude” in his disciples. In Matthew 5 he sits down on a mountainside to talk to them about life and this is what he tells them:

v3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
v4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
v5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
v6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
v7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
v8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
v9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
v10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus is like, do you want to know what it means to be blessed? To be covered in favor and to live a full life? Be poor in spirit. Be meek. Always long for more of me. Be merciful, pure in heart, a peacemaker, and don’t be afraid to have others not like you because you do what’s right.

Maybe first-class to God isn’t the fancy, priority boarding kind that you need enough money to buy, but the kind you need enough humility to live out. It might not be what we would label as “first-class” in this world, but Jesus told his best friends that this was the best way to live in his Kingdom. I wonder how many times I’ve missed an invitation to be first class because I looked at my life and assumed I was in boarding group 6.

I never got to tell that stranger last week how timely his word was or that I was getting on a plane in a few hours, but I think it’s cooler that way. And no, I wasn’t upgraded that day. I don’t know what determines everyone’s seat in life, but I have done a lot of thinking. I’m starting to believe that God can invite us to be first-class from whatever seat we’re in.

If God is inviting me, I want to take the upgrade.

Mel devotes most of her time to writing, making movies, and documenting life on her dad’s old Minolta X-700. She takes great pleasure in capturing honest moments and spreading joy through comedy. Mel is currently working in New York City. Visit her website here.