Flying with Drama

I was on my way home from speaking at a conference and I boarded my Delta flight. When I found my seat there was a man already there. Awkward.

It took me back to when I was a little kid and flying with my dad. A lady was in my window seat and my dad asked her to move. I recall feeling bad that my dad said something but also glad because as a little kid I really wanted the widow seat so I could see the clouds.

Now as an adult I spoke up and let this guy know he was in my aisle seat. He asked if I wanted the window seat and I told him, no. Funny how age can change so many things. I’d rather have the freedom to move without someone on the other side of me now. He moved in and I took my seat.

Not two minutes later he asked if I would move because he had to get up. I got up and let him out. Other passengers where still boarding so I thought it was weird.

When he came back he had a glass of water. I asked, “How’d you get water?” He said, “Well, the guy gave it to me but he wasn’t happy about it. But it’s okay, they are dealing with a lot.”

I didn’t think anything of it until a woman in red, with two men behind her in red, stood next to me. They were security. I’m thinking, “Oh boy, what’s about to happen?”

The lady said nicely but firmly, “Sir, did you have an altercation with a gentleman at the front of the plane?” He said, “Uh, no.” Then she said, “Sir, please step out of your seat and come with us.”

I had to move out of my seat to let him out and he stood up. The lady behind us was his wife and she began hollering, “What did you do?” There was also a little girl with her—I think it was their daughter. He gave his wife his keys, and a pet he had in a bag in front of his seat, and the security team escorted him off the aircraft.

Whoa! These folks don’t mess around!

I sat back in my seat and took a big breath to slow down my heartbeat.

A few minutes later the security lady was back and told the wife that her husband had assaulted a man in the front of the plane and had thrown water at him. He would not be flying Delta tonight. The wife asked if he could get a hotel room and fly out the next day. The security lady told her that, yes, he could get a hotel but that he’d have to fly another airline. 

The lady in red walked away as I noticed his cup of water left in front of his now empty seat. One cup of water caused all this drama. Was that water really that important to disrupt your whole life? Clearly water had to have been the least of his problems, but it was the thing that got him kicked off a plane.

My mind raced at how much I had been protected. Imagine if he didn’t cause any hullabaloo until after our plane had taken off? Imagine flying next to someone like this for over three hours.

Who knows what else he may have done?

Sitting in my seat I felt so thankful and thankful that God had protected me from, Who knows?!

How many times a day does God shelter us from harm and direct our path and guide us with peace and safety? We really have no idea, but we know if we are walking with God, He is looking out for us, He is with us, He is guiding us, He is protecting us from harm.

Today, for that I am so very thankful! Aren’t you? 

“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or in dread of them, for the LORD your God is the One wo is going with you. He will not desert you or abandon you.”

-Deuteronomy 31: 6

For more from Lucille Williams check out her books The Impossible Kid: Parenting a Strong-Willed Child with Love and Grace, and for your marriage, From Me to We, and The Intimacy You Crave. And on preorder Turtle Finds His Talent for ages 2-6. We invite you to subscribe to LuSays today for weekly encouragement.