Have you ever wanted to quit your job? Most people would have to say YES! There are certainly appropriate times for hanging it up and moving on but be very careful how you quit. It could result in your arrest. Just ask Steven Slater.
Slater was a veteran flight attendant. On August 9, 2010, his JetBlue flight from Pittsburgh International Airport landed at JFK in New York. Slater alleged that while the plane taxied to a stop, a passenger got up too soon to grab their bag from the overhead compartment. Upon approaching the passenger, Slater says that the passenger cursed him and proceeded to take their bag down which inadvertently hit Slater in the head. Slater demanded an apology and was only cursed even more.
Slater had enough! He got on the PA system, used a few curse words of his own before saying, “I’ve been in this business 20 years. And that’s it, I’m done.”1 “Afterward, he took two beers from the beverage cart, deployed the emergency exit and started down the slide. Realizing he’d left his bags on the aircraft, he scrambled back up the slide to retrieve them before fleeing down the chute again. After leaving the airport terminal, he drove to his home in Queens, New York. He then activated the emergency inflatable slide, exited the plane, and threw his tie on the tarmac before calmly walking to his Jeep.”2
A knock comes at his door later that day and Slater is arrested, charged with criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, and criminal trespass. Bail was set at $2,500 which he paid the next evening. Upon walking out of jail, he became an instant celebrity and the poster boy for all who have felt stressed or abused by others on the job.
“In October 2010, Slater, facing charges of reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and criminal trespassing, agreed to plead guilty to two counts of attempted criminal mischief and was spared jail time. As part of the deal, he agreed to undergo regular mental health and substance abuse counseling sessions for a year. Additionally, he was required to pay JetBlue $10,000 in restitution to replace the emergency chute.”3
To their credit, JetBlue did not immediately fire Slater. There is some discrepancy, though, as to whether he quit or was eventually fired.
Since the event, Slater has done numerous interviews and even apologized for his actions. As far as employment, Slater says his reputation tends to precede him, making him unemployable in many venues. Allegedly, he has moved to Tijuana, Mexico.4
There was a day when one of God’s choice servants quit. Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 20:7-9, “O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. (8) For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. (9) Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name…”
Some background is important. Jeremiah had been called by God to prophesy against Judah. Judah had followed in the pattern of rebellion set by their sister, Israel. God told Jeremiah that the message of prophets before had been rejected and that his message would be rejected as well. Nevertheless, Jeremiah was to preach, declaring Judah’s sin and their coming demise.
We can’t judge Jeremiah. We don’t know what it must’ve felt like for him to be constantly ridiculed. He was doing God’s work and being lambasted all the time. Finally, a day came where he had enough and he dramatically quit on God.
The last part of verse nine, though, is interesting. Jeremiah declared, “…But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.” We aren’t told how long Jeremiah kept quiet, refusing to speak on behalf of the Lord. Jeremiah, though, couldn’t remain a quitter. He had to get back to the Lord’s work.
I know this is the Lord’s Day and I hope nobody comes to church feeling like they are going to jump down the proverbial emergency chute, making their exit, and quitting on the Lord. It’s possible, though, that you are feeling that way. You are in good company.
Let God’s Word burn in you “as a burning fire shut up in your bones.” Take Paul’s advice found in Galatians 6:9-10. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (10) As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JetBlue_flight_attendant_incident
2https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/august-9/jetblue-flight-attendant-quits-job-via-escape-slide
3Ibid.
4https://www.flyertalk.com/articles/the-most-viral-rage-quit-in-airline-history-and-its-dark-ending.html/
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