Unexpected Plane Rides

We had expected a smooth flight back to Boston. The weather was clear and the pilot assured us that all would be routine on this afternoon trip from Nashville up north to Logan International Airport. We were feeling grateful for a lovely Thanksgiving holiday spent with the southern Schiller family but were anxious to get home. The Christmas holidays are approaching and we all have various commitments to prepare for in the coming weeks. And then, out of the blue, unexpected events on our “smooth” flight changed everything.

The cool, silent atmosphere within the plane was interrupted by the sound of the pilot’s voice booming over the intercom. “Ladies and gentlemen, it seems that we’ve lost our electrical panel thus we are planning an emergency landing in Baltimore. The flight attendants will prepare you.” Within moments, we were being told to brace for a crash landing by crouching head down onto our laps. I looked to my left where my daughter sat, and reached to the back where my husband and son sat and thought, “What is happening?” Then I heard a deep cry to my right. A single mom with a small daughter was weeping, “My baby, my baby, my baby.” I touched her arm and told her that all would be will. I advised her not to panic and led her in a quick prayer. I then tugged at my Miraculous Medal which was on a chain around my neck and told her that the Blessed Mother was watching over us, especially her baby girl. When she calmed down I turned back to my family who was taking this news as well as could be expected. We just all sat there, following the advice of the pilot and flight attendants. The time from the pilot’s announcement to landing seemed like an eternity but in the end, we landed safely at BWI (Baltimore) despite a bumpy, turbulent ride down.

It then took the airlines several hours to find a plane to reroute to BWI in order to take our group back to Boston. In the meantime, our plane full of people, made up mostly of families who had been away for Thanksgiving, were told to stay in the area for updates. I noticed immediately that folks from the plane greeted one another with patience, kindness and respect. We had formed a little community because we had survived what could have otherwise been a disaster. We all knew how blessed we had been and felt that waiting for hours for a good plane was no big deal. Our dog Hannah was a hit with the little kids (and their parents) who loved her friendly demeanor and wagging tail. Together, we exchanged names and smiles while embracing our fragile humanity in the midst of this unexpected encounter.

We later learned that the plane operated on only emergency electrical power because the entire electrical system had failed mid flight. In addition, the seasoned flight attendant told me that this situation had never happened to her before. It’s hard for me to think about that reality and what it could have meant for my family and the others on board that day. But the disastrous didn’t happen. And that is what I am focussing on this Advent Season. Sometimes in life we awfulize everything in our mind and hearts and rarely do these things ever happen. As I said to the crying mom on the plane, the Lord invites us to always trust him, no matter what. He asked a young teenage girl to trust him 2,000 years ago when she was invited to be the Mother of God. “Then Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” After this, the angel departed from her.” Luke (1:38)

Perhaps this unexpected event in my life can be a reminder to all of us that learning to truly trust God is the perfect way to prepare for Jesus’ birth. The Mother of God has set such an incredible example for every person. Like her, we can’t always see how a situation will work out, but we are still called to trust. Perhaps that’s why I instinctively grabbed for my Marian Medal on the plane? I felt the Blessed Mother’s presence in that frightening moment and knew that she would bring me to her Son for peace and calm. Praise God for the gift of his Mother and for my own mother Joan Mary who taught me how to love the Blessed Mother and her Son Jesus. Happy Advent friends.