Or When Blessings and Growth Come through Trials

Lets face it. We do not like trials and testing of our patience. Many of us cannot even tolerate a delay of a few minutes in this face paced demand driven culture. But once in a while, something truly unusual happens. That one day trip that has always gone so flawlessly goes completely haywire! And tests your patience and endurance to its limits.

Suddenly, you realize you have so little control over the situation you are in. You have been operating under the delusion that you are in control. That cars always arrive on time, flights are scheduled, crews and planes are readied for your journey and depart — only to come to a rude awakening that all of this is coming to a screeching halt. Suddenly you realize that you are not in control. Not at all. And there you are stuck in the airport. And not just for a slight delay. For one day, then two days, then three, then four days!

This is a true story about such a time.

My wife and I were stuck in a terrible airline debacle the last week of June 2023, when 150,000 airline travelers had United flights delayed repeatedly and then cancelled. And not just United; many airlines had planes grounded due to bad weather, missing crews, airport regulations, or governmental orders. As a result, for us, what should have been a one day travel direct from Nashville to Orange County turned out to be a FOUR day ordeal! Traveling through multiple airports, being forced to stay overnight in the airport, or in a nearby hotel, and spending lots of cash on expensive airport food or local transportation.

Lets go back to Day 1, when all this started.

Tues, June 27th – Day 1 of Our Journey. Nashville to Houston.

It all started when we boarded a flight from Nashville to Orange County by way of Houston. We boarded the flight in Nashville, and arrived in Houston. This was supposed to be a 1 hour layover, with a flight from Houston to OC the same day. But such was not to be. Our 7:30 flight changed status to Delayed in the early evening. What was coming up on the news channels was that there was a big storm on the east coast, and so a lot of flights that were supposed to depart New York or New Jersey never got off the ground. As a result, crews did not take off, and make it to other flights they were supposed to staff. And so the comedy of errors began.

Our flight was again delayed at 8:30, then 9:00, then 10 and finally at 1:00 am the next morning the flight was listed as Cancelled! I noticed that airport crews were rolling out cots by the dozens all over the airport. Apparently our United flight was not the only cancellation. Dozens of United flights were cancelled, along with other airlines. This was all over the news that night. United’s CEO was blaming the FAA for having inexperienced flight controllers, and unnecessary groundings. The FAA was blaming United and other airlines for lack of crew. No one was taking responsibility, and we passengers were left holding the bag as it were.

About 1:30 in the morning on Wednesday were were resigned to try to sleep in the airport on these cots – along with hundreds of others. Problem was, one couldn’t sleep. Too much noise, snoring, airport announcements every few minutes. It was a rough night.

Wednesday, June 28th – Day 2 of our Journey to OC. Still in Houston.

We awoke, groggy and cranky like a lot of other folks, and set about trying to reschedule our flight. Went I went to the counter, the airport person said we would have to go to the “Customer Service” desk, which was across the airport. When we got there, we found that there were only 3 people working the desk, and hundreds of people were waiting in line! We waited in line for about 4 hours, patiently, talking with people, and trying to pass the time. What else could we do? We were stuck.

Fortunately I was able to book a flight using the United app on my cell phone, so were were successfully rescheduled to go to Orange County on a flight through Denver on Thursday!

We decided we were NOT sleeping in the airport again, so I called for a local hotel, and booked a room for the night. It was about 13 miles away, but that was all I could get in Denver since all the local hotels were already full. The taxi picked us up, but since this was after normal hours our fee was $125 just to this hotel 13 miles away! We asked the driver, and he said this was just standard procedure. He was from Nepal, and was well educated, but couldn’t yet find a job to support himself and his family. So he took to taxi driving in the meantime. In a way, we thought – maybe the reason we are in his taxi was to give him a bit of help on his journey.

We slept in a Residence Inn that night, and had some breakfast in the morning. Then took another shuttle back to the Denver airport, hoping to catch our Flight out to OC.

Thursday, June 29th – Day 3 of our journey to OC. Arrived in Denver.

Our flight finally left Houston, arriving in Denver. We had to circle a few times before landing, due to a storm rising around the airport. Finally we landed and departed the plane, entering the airport.

We noticed ominous clouds gathering around the airport. We told ourselves, “no big deal” – planes take off in cloud weather all the time — right?” We sat waiting for our 7:30 pm flight, but then the status popped up – “Delayed”. Oh, we thought, just for a little while. Then delayed till 9:30, then 10:30, then finally the status “Cancelled” appeared on the screen.

My wife and I were at a loss for words. We couldn’t believe it. We asked the airline attendant, and they told us the cancellation was due to a combination of bad weather and “operational issues” (which I took to mean no crew, once again). I heard some clapping and “hoorah” down the airport isle, and asked what was up? I was told a plane had finally just taken off. Once of the few that would be leaving that day. Seemed like the same scenario was being repeated – flights being grounded due to no crews, and “operational issues”.

My wife and I were feeling very frustrated. We thought, “Why are we going through all of this? Why thr trial? What are we supposed to learn Lord? Then we decided a different perspective of this whole journey might help. We realized that we have so little control over all of this, the weather, the aircraft, then availability of a crew. Like many, we felt helpless and frustrated. But we knew our Father in heaven was not worried. He was still in control. None of this was a surprise to Him. The Lord spoke to our hearts, “You will get there eventually. Take heart. Consider this an adventure, rather than a trial. Yes, its frustrating, but look around – how can you help others? Encourage others?“

My wife noticed a young woman with MS, struggling to manage two small children. She went over and spoke to the woman, who was nearly in tears. I spoke with her husband, encouraging him that they would soon be on their way.

Our flight to Orange County was listed as scheduled, but the status soon turned to “Delayed”. And then Delayed again, and again. We saw a pattern emerging. Repeated delays, then a Cancellation would soon come. And it did. We couldn’t get on another flight – they were all booked.

So there we were in Denver, faced with staying yet another night in a local hotel. But we both agreed, “well, this is a new turn in our adventure!” I booked a Marriott Courtyard, and we caught a taxi to the hotel and stayed the night. The hotel was nice, and we ate at a local steak house for dinner. We talked it over, and prayed fervently to the Lord – please Lord, let tomorrow be the day. We were so looking forward to making it back to OC, to home!

Friday, June 30th – Day 4 of our Journey to OC. In Denver, on way to OC.

We took a taxi back to the airport, and decided to get wait listed on as many stand-bys as possible. So I got us listed on a 1:30 pm, and a 3:30 pm. There we sat waiting for the 1:30 flight, as standby passengers 8 and 9. We had worn the same clothes for 4 days now, since our luggage went on ahead back on Tuesday. We were tied, and exhausted. All we wanted was to get home!

My wife was also without her blook pressure meds, which further complicated things. She was about to cry. I felt I had to get us on that plane, so I walked up and spoke kindly to the desk attendant. I knew she was just as frustrated as the rest of us, so I thanked her for her service, and explained our now 4 day ordeal. She listened, and as she was typing, told us “yes, I think I can get you on this plane”. Shortly thereafter we moved up to standbys 3 and 4, and then voila! We were on with seat assignments! My wife Marie cried with tears of joy! It looked like we were finally going home!

We made it home. at 3:07 pm on Friday. My daughter picked us up at the airport. we were so glad to have finally made it home. We have traveled all over the world, across the US, all over Europe, the Middle East, Australia, South America, and never have we had such a trial as this journey from Nashville to OC.

It was beyond belief. But God our Father had our backs all the time, and taught us a few lessons during our four day journey home.

What God Taught Us Through this Time of Trial

That this Trial was a Test of our Trust in God, and a time for Spiritual and Growth of Character

The Lord had planned this trial for us – it just didn’t happen by accident. It says in His Word:

“Dear brothers and sisters, a when troubles of any kind come your way,
consider it an opportunity for great joy.” (James 1:1) and

“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.” (James 1:12)

Since we are His children, and He wants us to grow in spirit and character, He had a plan for us to grow through these series of events. At first, we asked ourselves, “Why God? Why is this happening to us? All we want is to go home. This should only take a day’s journey, yet it seems never-ending! And then it occurred to us, we are asking the wrong question. Our question should not be “Why?”, but “What?” What are you trying to teach us through this experience?”

We Learned that Sometimes We Need to Change Our Perspective

And then, that “still small voice” whispered to us: “Take heart. Look around. Change your perspective while you are navigating this small storm. What do you see? Others of mine – going through far worse than you are. The woman over there with the two small babies, and no husband near. The woman on the oxygen tank – trying to sleep on that cot. Reach out to others, and comfort them. Be my eyes, hands, feet and voice.”

So we did. My wife and I began to take a different perspective, reaching out to others. Encouraging others, cheering others up. And you know what? We felt better, the trial didn’t seem such a burden to us. We felt better about our situation, when we reached out to comfort others going through the same trial we were navigating.

We Learned That the Lord will More than Meet Our Needs

The Lord helped us see the situation with new eyes, a different perspective. Our anxiety faded when we looked around, and comforted and consoled others is distress. The Lord comforted us, assuring us that we would indeed get home in His time. How had he matured and blessed us?

• Prompting us to think about this from a different perspective opened up our eyes to what others were going through, and this gave us a chance to be a comfort and blessing to others
• Helped is think about the journey not as a trial, but an “adventure” in our Christian life. After all, isn’t that what its supposed to be?
• Not only got us onto thee next leg of our journey. but put us in first class seats on our flight to Denver
• Allowed us to bless a taxi driver from Nepal with much needed income for his family
• Provided us with the means to stay in two nice hotels near the airport, rather than have to sleep on the airport in cots
• Has given us sufficient income to eat at good restaurants during the journery

Further Blessings upon our Return: a Gorgeous Entry to our Home, and United Mileage Awards

Upon returning, we were surprised by our daughter that she had completely redecorated the entryway to our home. The old worn out plants were removed, and new plants and flowers were put in place. This was certainly an unexpected blessing!

I filed some complaints with United airlines. First, for a four day set of flights than should taken only a day. Second, for having to pay for hotels and taxis for several days, which amounted to nearly a thousand extra dollars of expense. In response, United Airlines provided my wife and I 30,000 Mileage Plus airline miles, which we received, plus $197 in cash for partial recompense for the hotels.

Would we book another flight with stopovers? Not likely. But we will still keep flying, but only direct from one place to another. And we will try to remember, that even though we encounter trials on our journeys, they are put there for a purpose. To help us realize that God is still in control, and to trust Him. To build up our endurance, and character. To reach out to others, and comfort them with the same comfort that we receive from our Lord.

Thank you Lord for getting us through this “adventure”, and allowing us to comfort others along the way. Help us to see with new eyes, a different perspective, when we run into trial of various sorts in the future. So that we can align with your plans, and your will, and be a blessing to others.