(New York Amsterdam News)- Greetings from 30,000 feet as a week of travels flies me across the aerial highways, from the Northeast to the Southeast, back to the Northeast and on to the West Coast.
I had not planned to return to the Northeast so quickly but I had little option because I missed my flight from Fort Lauderdale to Houston with connecting service to Las Vegas to attend a hotel convention on Tuesday morning. May 15.
After my 4:30 a.m. wake-up call in Miami that morning, I made my way to Fort Lauderdale to board United's 7:10 a.m. flight to Houston. I was on time. Well, so I thought.
On arrival, I was told that the flight was scheduled to depart at 6:05 a.m. and even though I had checked in online, my bags now wouldn't make it and I would have to be routed via Chicago on a standby basis.
Learning of my disappointment, a West Indian baggage handler suggested to the agent that she explore options for me via Newark Airport. Both the agent and I were thankful for his suggestion, as she was able to speedily confirm me on flights to Newark, then onto Las Vegas.
I expressed my disappointment, as it was unlike me to miss flights, even though I am notoriously late arriving at airports to spend less time waiting to board flights.
But the agent appealed to me to relax, saying everything happens for a reason. As I sat in a comfy exit row seat, I reflected on those two excellent United Airlines staffers who got my day back on track after an annoying bump in the road.
The scriptures teach us all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose and that we should be anxious in nothing.
These divinely simple words brought calm to me and the knowledge that everything would work out.
And, here I was, a few hours late to Vegas but with the laptop fully charged, an opportunity to get work done and stretch out in my premium seat assignments in coach class.
I encourage you, too, to embrace the detours which are inevitably part of our life’s journey. We have to embrace them and understand that every setback in life is nothing but a setup for a comeback.
Resist the temptation to have your valuable energy sapped by negative emotions when we drift off course. Instead, take a deep breath, find the solutions, stay the course and thank and praise the most High God for always guiding our steps.
Bevan Springer is a columnist for the New York Amsterdam News, where this column first appeared. He is also president of the New Jersey-headquartered Marketplace Excellence marketing firm and produces the Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx).
Photo: Bevan Springer
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