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For eleven years, from 2004 to 2015, I was known as the "Portland Airport Angel," and it was one of the sweetest seasons of ministry I’ve ever known.
Before I ever sat down at those keys at PDX, I would pray. I’d ask the Lord to reach the people who were broken or hurting through my music. As an inspirational composer, I knew the notes weren't just for entertainment; they were meant to be a bridge from my heart to theirs. I remember one man in a leather jacket with a heavy equipment strap across his chest—he looked like a hardened professional. But as I played a piece the Lord gave me called Petite Chantelle, all that armor melted away. He told me the music reached right into his "innermost being."
God coordinates such magnificent, tiny miracles in the middle of travel chaos. One Wednesday, as I was trying to finish my set to get to Bible study, a woman walked in just as I began playing Never Alone. She stopped, stunned. She told me that while she was on her flight, she felt she heard a voice telling her, "You’re never alone." Stepping off that plane to hear those exact words through the piano was the confirmation she needed from a loving Father.
A Connection Beyond Generations
I’m often surprised by who the music touches. While some told me my style might only appeal to a certain age group, I found my greatest supporters were often the teenagers and young adults. To this day, my biggest following on social media is Gen Z. They seem to love my "kitchen-sink" style—a mix of smooth jazz, classical, and easy listening. Whether it’s a tough-looking young man in tears over Irish Rose or a teenager hearing something they’ve never experienced before, I see God’s hand at work.
My time at the airport taught me that when we turn our daily work into Platforms of Praise, the Holy Spirit opens hearts that seemed completely closed. I wanted my music to be Steps To Joy for people who had lost their way.
Reflection: God wants to use your unique gifts to reach the "innermost being" of those around you. When you offer your talents to Him in prayer before you begin, He can turn a simple task into a divine appointment. Who might be waiting for a "tiny miracle" through you today?
