A Second Chance at Life for the Passengers and Crew of US Airways Flight 1549

I joined most of the country in watching the second by second rescue of the passengers and crew of US Airways Flight 1549, which landed gently in the Hudson River after losing both engines on January 25th.  I held my breath, I prayed, and I wondered what I would have done if I had been on that plane.

Would I have kept calm?  Would I have been able to help others, or would I have been so panicked that I just pushed my way through to the door?

Once I was aware that they were all safe I began to say massive prayers of gratitude.  I truly felt as if I had just watched a miracle unfold.  I cried as I heard the stories of the ferrymen, who immediately gunned their engines and headed towards the crash when they saw it, not even waiting for instructions or distress calls.  They were there on the site in minutes like angels ready to pull people from the frigid waters.  I was overwhelmed with love for my fellow man, as I heard story after story of heroism and kindness.

As I went to sleep that night, I again said prayers of thanks, and then I began to wonder what was next for the survivors.   What would they say and do when reunited with their families?  Would this be a major turning point in their lives, or would they get back to business and life as usual without searching for deeper meaning in their survival?

Some stories have already begun to surface, and they give me hope that the survivors are heeding the message they were given by the Universe.

Newsday published an article recounting passenger Beverly Mills' return home to her husband Mike.  I love that the reporter mentioned how much they were touching each other.  I think the thought of losing someone reminds you how very precious the ability to hug, touch and kiss someone truly is.

Beverly also said she'd been taking a week off to be with her husband.  She is a long distance commuter, by the way.  I wonder if this incident will make her rethink her career choices.  Will this week of rest give her time to consider other options that do not keep her away from home as often?  Will her husband Mike raise the subject of a change?  Or will they take this gift that they've been given and hide it away in some mental scrapbook only to be looked at from time to time?

The Charlotte Observer has a great article, Survivors Seek Meaning, New Purpose After Miracle, that explores the religious and spiritual reactions of some of the survivors.  One survivor, Don Norton does not consider himself a religious man, but I love this quote from the article:

He's says he's still struggling to figure out why he's not dead.

Was it a warning to change his life? Or a case of a master pilot using his God-given talents to save them all?

Norton knows one thing: He feels that God wants him to talk about it with others, to tell them what a precious thing life is.

I hope that Don continues to wonder what this incident means in his life, and allows it to have the profound affect it should indeed have.

I guess I have that same hope for all of us.  I hope that we all take the time to meditate on what happened out there over the Hudson, and reflect on what meaning it has for all of our lives.  I have put myself in one of those seats, and envisioned hearing the pilot warn us to "brace for impact", and I have tried to use my gut reactions as a guide to what is important in my life.

Once again the thoughts of unmade beds, an untidy living room or dirty dishes in the sink, did not immediately spring to mind.  What a surprise - NOT.  My thoughts were of Gracie and Bill.  I didn't even get the idea that dying would mean leaving unfinished business. I really think I have gotten to a place where I accept that death is just moving on to something different and that it will happen when it is meant to happen.

What I did take away from this exercise was a reaffirmation that your family and friends are what really matter in life.  Accomplishment, career success, financial freedom and all of the other things I strive for in life are nice, but they don't really matter in the end.

Based on the number of passengers on that plane who, upon hearing the phrase "brace for impact" dialed or texted to their loved ones, I suspect this is a universal truth.  I notice none of them called the office to make sure someone would be available to cover their next meeting!

Take some time as soon as you can to put yourself aboard flight 1549 and imagine what would would go through your mind as you thought you were about to die.  Then imagine what you would do differently having been given a second chance at life.

Then go do it!

Comments

[Maudrey]

I think it's moments like these that make us realize how fleeting life is which is why we should live each day as if it were our last. That said, as soon as I heard this story, it made me grateful for the fact that I've been spending time with my sisters, my brother-in-law and my nephew. But it also made me wish my parents weren't thousands of miles away. Because these are the people I'd want to spend the last days of my life with.

Maudreys last blog post..Traditional Wedding Favors

[Michele Angelo]

Having done that twice in my life, you do change your life and how you view it. And what is important!

[tom]

Why is it that we become grateful and appreciative when tragedy happens? And it shows the real face of people

toms last blog post..Just when you thought your life sucked