The Whisper

A few years ago, traveling on my first mission trip to Harlem with a group from church, I boarded our connecting flight in Atlanta to see a woman sitting in the front row who seemed slightly rattled. Putting her hands over her face, she sighed deeply and glanced at the boarding passengers as she let out a huge exhale.

I had just finished reading the book, Praying for Strangers by River Jordan, and I instantly knew I had to pray for her. But that wasn’t all; I needed to tell her. After all, that is what happened to the author in the book on several occasions. She felt the person needed to know someone was praying for them.

So, just as I passed by her seat, I leaned in and whispered in her ear, “I’m praying for you.”

The look she shot me sent arrows through my body, and I straightened and quickly found my seat. I told God as I sat down that I had done my part; I prayed for her and told her. The rest was up to Him. I didn’t know what was happening in her life, but God did.

I settled in and forgot all about the encounter. When we landed, and I went through the airport, I saw my group huddled in a circle peering into their phones. As I walked up, one girl asked me if I had seen her.

“See who?” I asked.

“Octavia Spencer!” She reported excitedly.

“Where was she?” I asked, almost knowing but wanting to be sure.

“On the front row. I asked her if she was trying not to be noticed,” The girl said.

“Which side?” I continued to question.

“On the right.” She turned her phone to show me the image.

“Yes, I saw her and whispered in her ear that I was praying for her,” I told the group nervously.

They cackled with laughter, and one of the guys said, “I love it!” All the church groups competed on who could see the biggest star. I think we had just beat them with my whisper.

I kept watching for her on talk shows, imagining that she would tell everyone about the crazy lady on the plane. Now, I have a closer connection, and when I watch her in movies, that memory makes me laugh.  I still pray for strangers, but this has been my only celebrity encounter…so far.