Thoughts became reality the day my flight home was rerouted to another Cuban airport. Anxiety wanted to convince me that I was never going home. Instead of picking up the only plane maintenance mechanic on the island, as the captain said. They really rerouted us to kidnap us. Told you visiting Cuba wasn’t a good idea; my anxiety reminded me in an attempt to spiral me out of control. Seeing the despair on my face, my best friend seated next to me, reminded me not to engage with my intrusive thoughts but to pray.
As I prayed, I couldn’t help but think of what it would be like to get on a plane without knowing where I was going. My love for travel was excited at the thought, but my intrusive brain asked too many questions in an attempt to deter me. My spirit, however, reminded me that thoughts become reality and prompted me to keep dreaming, so I did.
I imagined what it would be like to get on a plane, destination unknown. Though I wasn’t sure exactly how it could be feasible, I pictured myself watching the interactive map of my aircraft flying over the United States, excited at the possibilities. Still fighting the intrusive thoughts so, I closed my eyes and fell asleep in an attempt not to allow those thoughts to become reality.
We made it home safely without getting kidnapped in Cuba and went about our daily lives. As someone who loves to share their travel stories, I just couldn’t talk about my trip to Cuba. My answers to questions were vague and short. While I was thankful to be home, I didn’t want to remember the painstaking anxiety I experienced on the trip. In no way would I let those thoughts become reality.
A month later, while perusing my emails, I noticed an email with the subject, JetBlue Check-in For Good. The email was short and sweet, reading: Toni, we’re going to come right out and say it – we think you’re good. Really good. And all that good doesn’t go unnoticed! That’s exactly what JetBlue For Good Month is all about – celebrating kindness and good deeds. Double up your do-good status and tell your friends to #CheckInForGood.
I couldn’t tell what the email was about, so I clicked the link (that has since been taken down) for more information, and what I learned filled my soul. Jetblue made it a point to find different ways to give back to the community, and Check In For Good was a way to bring selected volunteers together for a cause.
After running a volunteer program in college and having Cuba reignite that passion, I eagerly filled out the forms, expressing just that.
The following month, I learned that I was one of 100 people receiving an all-expense paid trip through JetBlue to a surprise destination to volunteer after the Thanksgiving holiday. Able to bring a guest, I chose my best friend, the same best friend who sat across the aisle from me on the flight back from Cuba, to accompany me. Unbeknownst to me, while I was thinking of a surprise trip on that flight back home, she was thinking of visiting the beach before winter fell upon us, something we hadn’t been able to do. Little did we know then, but those thoughts would become a reality thanks to JetBlue.
Excitedly we headed to the airport, where our final destination was revealed. After checking in, we were given a sealed envelope that revealed our destination: Dominican Republic. We would spend the next week volunteering in schools and working to protect the coral reefs.
After receiving our tickets and gate information, we made our way to the terminal, where we received even more goodies; a sack pack of Jetblue for good merch, a name tag, and an itinerary. By the window, a band entertained us with music as we sat and waited for our flight. It was by far the most fun I’d ever had in an airport, with laughing, dancing, and the air filled with intense joy.
After boarding the plane, we learned that everyone on board was a part of the trip. Our flight was full of strangers JetBlue had hand-picked to become volunteers. After bonding over such an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, strangers would become like family.
I watched as the interactive map made its way from JFK to Punta Cana. As we touched down in Punta Cana, we received the warmest welcome; a water cannon salute. A water cannon salute is an honor bestowed upon airplanes where a water arch is created for the aircraft to go through after landing. These are often done to celebrate special occasions (such as the retirement of an aircraft) or for ceremonial purposes. For us, they welcomed us with a water cannon salute as a way of saying thank you for the work we would be doing while on the island. It was epic.
Our thoughts become reality, and while we can’t choose the thoughts we are bombarded with, we choose the thoughts we hold on to. I can’t for sure tell you what would’ve happened had I chosen to engage in the intrusive thoughts that day on the flight back from Cuba. But I can say that the thoughts I choose to pray about, those thoughts became reality.
Now God hasn’t always answered my prayers in such significant ways, but he always shows up in some way, shape, or form. The Bible reminds us not to be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Phil 4:6). There is tremendous power in prayer. The wonderful thing about prayer is there’s no simple formula you HAVE to follow; you can if you want to. But honestly, all God wants from you is to talk to Him as you would a friend, with no need for specific language. I promise you God does not need you to pick up old English like the King James Version of the Bible. However, you speak how you would talk to him; after all, He created you, so he understands even your tears.
You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each on in your book.
Psalm 56:8
Confide in Him; tell Him your fears, pain, and anger. Even if it’s directed towards Him, He can handle it. He desires it more than we truly understand because that’s the love of the Father. And if you’re like me, who had an earthly father who failed you, it can be tough to understand this. We often see God the same way we see our earthly fathers.
I’m still in training, but I’m learning to use prayer as a defense against those intrusive thoughts. When I remember to seek God first through prayer, the intrusion calms down, and I can redirect my thoughts. However, I can spiral into a dark abyss when I don’t seek Him first. It’s all about progress, not perfection.