About three weeks ago, my stepdaughter flew here for a visit over the weekend.  We had so much fun that on Sunday afternoon when she was about to fly back to LA, we were scurrying toward the airport check-in counter like nuts. Hubby was so stressed out. We didn’t want her to miss the flight. On the outside, I was as serene as a windless sea, on the inside, I was saying 3,008 different prayers all at once at probably an imaginary 200 decibel scream level. It was partially my fault anyway. It’s always fun to have her around. And the security check queue! How could we have forgotten that almost everyone else was flying out in the peak of spring break? Here was the scenario:

Fifteen minutes to scheduled departure

The security line snaked tenfold.  Hubby and stepdoe went to the line. I was left behind at the main lobby since the airport had to limit the number of adults accompanying minors to the gates due to the thickness of passenger traffic that day. They were still about fifty yards away (well, maybe a little less) from the x-ray machines where shoes, jackets, belts, keys and other gizmos need to be taken off, in a line that was inching forward perhaps only 5 yards every 5 minutes. 15 minutes until take off. You do the math. I couldn’t look at them. It was torture to see them stuck in line.  I couldn’t look at my watch. It was, after all, a futile race. I just kept praying, and praying and praying that they make it to the gate…that she doesn’t miss the plane…that it wouldn’t disrupt her step dad’s schedule, that she won’t miss school yada yada yada, while trying to deflect my ensuing panic by looking at Angelina Jolie and Britney Spears on some magazine covers at the newsstand. 

Five minutes AFTER scheduled departure

I just got myself a cup of coffee by the baggage claim when I got a text message. It was hubby, “D FLIGHT S DELAYD. SHE WIL MAKE IT”.

It’s not a coincidence. 

I might sound too self-absorbed to even think that it was my faith that did it. But sorry, it really makes sense to me.  God granted my wish even before I finished praying for it! The universe conspired, so it seemed, to make my wish come true-- transcending beyond the boundaries of linear time.  The flight has probably long been delayed by the captain, the flight attendants, the mechanics, the air traffic control, without us knowing it. Way before we scurried like nuts to the check-in counter. But we didn't know that. 

Don’t you notice?

This happens to us most of the time, don’t you notice?  We pray so hard for something even if as it eventually turns out, the answers have long been ready. It simply unfolds at the right time, in our human time. The wish is granted before the wish ever comes. In our world, our mind works and likes to interpret things in accordance with the laws of “time in succession”; cause before effect. To me and my strange scheme of things and in a deeper and rather philosopical reckoning, the logic or rationale behind events that happen MOST LIKELY DEFIES THIS (ergo: cause before effect OR effect before cause--it doesn't matter, backward, forward OR at random shots, anything is possible).  Why do we need to pray then if things seem to have been pre-destined? No, I seriously don’t think that things are even pre-destined at all.  God orchestrates this mystery of gargantuan proportions with different purposes beyond our understanding. To marry up philosophy, theology and psychology might be beyond my cerebral limits. But one thing I believe I’m getting at, in a rather simple perspective is God encourages us to experience and enjoy the different colors of life through events that happen in our lives and to paint a beautiful picture that is actually in our hands, with the aid of Divine guidance and intervention when necessary ---after all, God never leaves us alone especially in very trying endeavors.  He makes us realize what we want given our own unique selves and to stand up for what we want the most and rejoice at getting them ---or even appreciate NOT getting them, even as an afterthought.  He wants us to develop an appreciation of life, and in effect guides us in writing the most beautiful life stories ever told.  He makes all these possible by giving us the gift of FAITH. It is faith that, to us, moves mountains and does other grand and extra-ordinary things like stop airplanes from taking off to make way for someone dear, one single person amongst hundreds. Faith is like the background music to each dance of life.

I should be thankful now then.  I should consider all my prayers, wishes, my deepest yearnings granted now. It’s only a matter of time.  “People-time”.