My Fear of Flying on My Trip to South Carolina

“Whatever I like, even after a long time, I still like it. And I reminisce about the moment when I first heard it. That’s what I love. Just remembering those moments.” G-Dragon

Once, a long time ago, I enjoyed traveling in an airplane. Today, I do not like traveling by airplane anymore. When it snows and worse, when it rains I hate traveling by air. and by car. However, we can’t do everything well all the time. We have to adapt and accept what life or nature provides.

I also drive and driving in snow is not my forte. I should have checked the weather report for the day before I booked my flight. Checking the weather after, to see what it would be like was disheartening because it was pouring on the day I planned on flying out to South Carolina.

The weather channel reported a 90% chance of rain. Hoping the weather channel would be lying, I prayed about it before going to bed. I was so excited for my little vacation with my husband. To get away for a few days of quietness and relaxation. To feel carefree and enjoy my young self, for a few days.

However, I couldn’t sleep because of the excitement and fear of flying if it rained. As I lay in bed, I prayed asking the Lord for peace and a restful night’s sleep. As I closed my eyes I was reminded of the scripture to not be anxious or fearful because “….God has not given me the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

I woke up and the rain was pouring. Some would say it's raining cats and dogs. Looking through the window I felt a little discouraged. Lord, I do not like flying in this kind of weather, but I trust your leadership and your protection. You have been leading and guiding me through life’s struggles and toughest issues, and this is nothing in your hands. I trust you, Lord, as my pilot.

I guess it is better than driving 10 hours in the rain which might take longer with crazy traffic. I am excited, and really looking forward to spending time with my youngest daughter and her handsome husband.

Devon, my son-in-law, my second daughter’s husband drove my husband and me to the airport. As we hit the highway the rain came down harder. In front of our vehicle, I noticed this high thick cloud and it seemed as if it was moving and getting bigger covering the back of something. I kept staring at it and wondering what it was.

As I kept looking there was a small light at the bottom. I kept looking and wondering what this thing was moving and this steam-like thickness getting higher and wider.

“It’s great to reminisce about good memories of my past. It was enjoyable today. So learning to enjoy today has two benefits: it gives me happiness right now, and it becomes a good memory later” https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/reminisce-quotes

Then something resonated in my inner being reminding me of the pillar of cloud that led the children of Israel by day to protect them from their enemies. It made me think how wonderful God is in looking out for people who still disobey his word at every chance they get. I marveled at how God loved me so much to want to protect me from the enemy. In the end, the enemy was destroyed and Israel was saved.

This pillar of steam like a cloud that the rain made made me grateful and thankful that God loves me so much that he wants to protect me from the strife of tongue and the schemes and plots of the enemy. However, as the rain lightened up the steam-like cloud dissipated revealing the hidden thing behind the cloud, a truck. What I understand is, that God’s love and protection will not, nor has it gone away.

And so as we journeyed on toward the airport my husband started to reminisce about things from the past.

He remembered using a slate to write about going to school. I could remember my first time getting a slate to write on. We have come a long way from then to now, from using slate in school to using an exercise book, loose leaf, typewriter, computer, and now, laptops. During the year I was born, there were no Chromebooks, iPads, and even lined paper. Students still had to complete their assignments, so the material we used then to complete our work was on a school slate. (In the past, students did most of their schoolwork on a slate.)

I wondered why he was reminiscing about the past. According to research, “nostalgia serves as a coping mechanism allowing people to navigate periods of stress, or transition. By taking a mental trip down memory lane, we can foster a sense of personal continuity, easing feelings of discontinuity or disconnection that we might be experiencing in the present.”

Reading about reminiscing on milliniummemorycare.com, I understand that when we reminisce, “it allows us to validate our life, by expressing ourselves through past events to communicate what was (and is) important, such as special occasions, people we love, events that might change our life (and maybe our world).”

“Reminiscing restores one’s sense of self and belonging.”

However, I find reminiscing a good thing, especially sharing the past with our children.

The plane was about one hour and thirty minutes, but it seemed shorter. we landed in Charlotte, North Carolina, our children picked us up and we started the drive to their home in beautiful Greenville, South Carolina. I felt relaxed and relieved to start my vacation and time with my family.

Thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to read my story. I appreciate you. Hope you are motivated to write, read, travel, and accomplish what you started to do. Please savor the writings of these writers.

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