A Missional Conversation at Cruising Altitude

This last week, a young leader and LinkedIn connection asked if he could meet with me since he was going to be in South Florida. My office tried to work it out, but my calendar was slammed and I also had an overseas trip so it didn’t work out. My flight from the Dominican Republic got back early, so I rearranged my flights to Washington D.C. and caught an earlier one.

I was presently surprised that the middle seat was empty, giving me and the other passenger, who was rather tall more room to stretch out. Just as we were taking off, he asked, “Are you Rob? Are you Rob Hoskins?”

“Yes I am.” I replied.

He said  “I’m Jon DeLange.”

He had gotten on before me and asked the flight attendant if he could move up a few rows in order to stretch out.

For the next 2 1/2 hours, on our way to Washington D.C., me for meetings, him to change planes to head home, we had an incredibly engaging conversation, ranging from philosophy, theology, donor development, Charlie Kirk, expressive individualism, and my new favorite new topic- collaborative Missiology.

I love how a half hour meeting that we couldn’t arrange was orchestrated by the Holy Spirit. Our plans being altered for me being in seat 12 D and him in 12 F with an empty seat in between is literally a statistical impossibility. I love Divine appointments, I love when the Holy Spirit directs my every step and moment.

Kim and I established a new mission statement for our lives six years ago to ‘serve great leaders and build young leaders’. The Lord gives us the desires of our hearts, the steps of righteous people are ordered by the Lord and he joins us in the minute details of our calendars and even 36,000 feet in the air.