Women and Planes

Upon boarding a flight this morning, I realized I was sitting next to a female pilot employed by the airline I'm flying on and a woman absolutely terrified of flying. Coincidence? I think not. I learned the pilot has flown most of her life; she spoke of NASA, the Air Force, and top secret missions to Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm. She talked about fancing sounding planes I've never heard of. Sensing the other woman's anxiety, the pilot narrated everything that was happening as the plane lifted from the runway. When the turbulence began, the other woman started breathing heavily with her head in her sweaty palms. She grasped the wrist of the pilot as the pilot attempted to distract the woman from her fear. She explained how the wings of the plane function, and the reason for feeling bumps during turbulence. She eventually reached for her iPad as the ultimate distraction, showing the woman flight maps and other information. She gave her a piece of gum to chew. They exchanged their stories and numerous family pictures during the remainder of the flight. Amongst some sad stories in the world, I love experiencing these moments, meeting genuinely kind souls, and witnessing that God even cares about the small stuff.