I'm sure you are all aware of the airline accident that took place in Hudson Bay yesterday, and are either thinking....whew..........that was a close one, or those people were lucky, or we all just witnessed a miracle. For me, there is no doubt in my mind a miracle took place, and that God was with these people throughout the whole ordeal, and there is also no doubt that many, either on the plane, or just experiencing the news, are most often asking themselves why or how something like this could have happened.
I would like to share my thoughts on the things that are unseen in this particular situation....because I truly believe that things that happen on this earth always have a purpose and meaning behind them. Think of all the people on that plane, from the pilot to the passengers, as well as all the people who were on the ground that were in place to rescue them.......to the people who were nowhere near the scene that were affected by the situation.
Of course to me, this all goes back to the issue of change. Change is inevitable and it WILL happen no matter how hard you want to keep things the same. In order for that change to take place, whatever change is needed, something has to happen. Granted it doesn't always have to be a plane setting down in the Hudson Bay......but most often it is the case. I also believe it can be as simple as showing people that even with all the hooplah about the recession right now.......miracles can and do happen, if you're willing to pay attention.
Now, with the plane situation, it's very obvious that we are lucky to be here on the ground......bystanders.....or even lucky as a passenger, that things didn't go really bad for them all.......but there are, if you're willing to really open your eyes and your mind, things happening like that all the time. Things that make you stop and think.......well I don't have it so bad, to being down right grateful that you were not a passenger on that plane. And I think that in order to get through the bad times, you have to be more aware of the good things that are left......which quite often are pretty good.
I think for a long time now, we have been given the opportunity to see how blessed we are, by the horrendous things that happen in other countries. Children starving, people dying of aids, earthquakes and floods in locations where resources and rescue missions are left wanting. So there we sit, in front of our televisions, in the comfort of our own homes with plenty to eat, a warm bed to sleep in, and most often at least enough money to keep those things in place. All while these other people are suffering, and most are innocent.....did nothing to deserve that kind of suffering.
Should be enough you think, to make us all stop and be thankful for all we have........but I don't think we do. Or we don't until something hits home like the events of 911, a child found murdered, or a plane having to land in the bay. Many are likely to take a few moments for prayer, say how lucky the people are, or think how lucky we are that we didn't have to experience that..........then let it go. Just another situation...period.
If we see it that way, I believe we're missing an incredible opportunity to see the world differently, especially when people are hurting right now with losing jobs, being sick, and losing their homes. You figure if you have your job, your home and your "stuff" to come home to, then life is good. That you deserve all that simply........well simply because you're you? That when you were born you were stamped with a label that shows you were one of the lucky, more fortunate people, and would never suffer, be lonely, or want for anything? Or maybe it's just something you never think about. You are who you are, have what you have, and the most important thing in life is for you to keep what you have until you die.
I know.......seems a dark, shallow picture I'm painting here, and for what purpose in mind? Only to hopefully help you see that there is so much to be gained from seeing the hidden message in everything that happens in your life. Here are a few that may have been hidden yesterday afternoon.
1. Pilot needed to be recognized for his humility, because this is the sort of character that we should all strive to have within us.
2. It was time for new routes to be considered because of the migration problem around the bay......which now will more than likely be put into place, which in turn will hopefully prevent future situations with air strikes.
3. Someone on the plane needed to learn something, and this was a perfect opportunity for them to learn something about themselve, or someone they love.
4. Someone on the plane needed to drastically change directions in their life, or make a decision about something and needed a clear message to help them with that.
5. Someone not on the plane, but related to a passenger needed to change something in their life....their attitude, mindsets, seek help medically or emotionally.
6. There was some reason why a passenger needed to stay in NY a while longer before returning home.
7. The world needed to see a miracle on such a grand scale, to see their life differently. To be more thankful each day for what they DO have instead of what they don't have.
I think it would be very interesting to be able to follow each person that was on that plane for another 6 months, and see how it changed their life, if at all. But the point here is, if you just take yesterday and not even consider what the repercussions of that situation may have been......you're wasting an incredible opportunity to experience something extraordinary in your life.
If I had been on that plane, what would go through my mind just as the plane was going down? There is no way to know, but I suppose I can speculate. For some reason it wouldn't have been anything about money, or my stuff I've accumulated through the years. It would be more about my family, my children, and if I had prepared myself for what comes after death. I'm sure there are many who believe that nothing comes after death.....when you die, you die. And you have a perfect right to believe that, but I would venture to say that most of the people on that plane thought they were facing death, and probably most of them were praying, even the ones who don't believe in God.
So for those watching, how in the world could you not take a moment to not only think about what they went through, and wonder how you would have handled the situation, or what you would have been thinking when the plane went down? These are in fact the hidden messages in life, and if you allow yourself to think about them, they will in fact change your life, and of course the lives of those around you. As bad as what happened yesterday was, I can find much peace in knowing that myself, as well as others, see a much bigger picture here that radiates out to the world.
I also believe that this is the year for change, as well as the year for miracles.....and because of the recession and stress that is experienced today, we will see many more, remembering that some are unseen instead of seen. It is a proven fact that your body experiences a change in brain patterns when you witness an extraordinary act of kindness, which in turn releases a chemical that relaxes the body. So even if you decide you don't have it within you to do something thoughtful for someone, and get a warm feeling inside, you can still benefit from watching someone else be nice. I think that's awesome, and venture to say you probably were not aware of that fact. So the relief that we all believe we need in these stressful times, could have come in the form of watching others survive a disasterous situation, and the kindness of those that helped them.
See....just by me sharing that information with you, on the pretext of hopefully teaching you to be more aware and thankful......I passed on something that could potentially change your life, by changing your mindsets about being kind, and noticing the kindness of others. Now you'll hopefully go out today in search of kindness just to experience that chemical reaction in the brain. Who knew? And whether you choose to believe any of this, or don't want to take the time to believe there are things that are unseen all around you, that if you could see, would in fact change your life, maybe it's enough just today, that you were moved in some way to feel a message of any kind. Once you've experienced one, you will start looking for more.....and before you know it..........a miracle will happen in your own life. I hope so.
