I was cleaning out the small college refrigerator in our class for the weekend, throwing out someone’s wrinkled tangerine and a few stray ketchup packets. In the door, I spied my travel-size bottle of coffee creamer. It was half-full. Cool, I’ll have creamer for Monday.

That was two Fridays ago. We received the news over that weekend that Arizona schools would be closed until the end of March. 

My job situation had changed in less than forty-eight hours.

We hear about an aircraft making an emergency landing when there is an imminent threat to the safety of those aboard. Wherever the passengers had thought they were going when they boarded the flight, didn’t end up there. There was a forced diversion of their plans and their intended location. Admittedly, no one is probably very happy about being “knocked off course,” so to speak, but they are indisputably grateful when they land safely.

We all have big plans on the vision boards of our life. I’m going to pay my house off in five years… Or, I’m going to have my college degree before I’m twenty-one. Take this from the girl who has taken eleven years to finish her college degree: Life doesn’t always go as predicted.

There are a lot of “emergency landings” in our life when we have a clear destination in mind, spread our wings for flight, and are unexpectedly intercepted mid-flight by a cancer diagnosis, the loss of a job, a failed relationship, the COVID-19 virus…you name it.

You are hurting. You are frustrated. You feel shelved.

But, after the cloud of dust settles from your unintentional landing back to Earth, take a step back. Is there a possibility that you’ve landed in a better place? Are you stronger and better equipped to take to the skies the next time? 

Or…maybe you’ve discovered that you had been headed in the wrong direction the whole time.

Just my little thought for today.

Keep your family close and stay safe, my friends.

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