What a Miracle!

The news of the US Airway jet carrying 155 people bound for Charlotte, N.C. from New York, which struck a flock of birds during takeoff and impaired the jet's engines minutes earlier at LaGuardia Airport and piloted by Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger of Danville, Calif who brought the plane down safely in the frigid waters of the Hudson River, was phenomenal and a miracle! I was glued to CNN News watching the rescue effort and the stories and interviews that emerged from that day of January 15, 2009.

I believe the pilot was a HERO! Without his expertise and experience, and all the right quick 'decisions' and given the circumstances, it was truly a MIRACLE.

I was profoundly moved by this miracle. It is not everyday that we hear and read good news. So, this one really struck a nerve in me. Anyone who has flown on a commercial airliner can truly relate and feel what it would mean if the pilot goes on the intercom and says 'brace for impact!. A sense of calmness was what the passengers received from the pilot 'Scully.' Had the pilot hinted any sign of emotional distress or panic as he spoke those frightening words, it would surely be 'chaos' and could perhaps even induce heart or panic attacks for passengers on board even before impact.

I learned a great deal witnessing that miracle. When life comes close to the end, you know exactly what is priority and that is your family. To say to them how much they mean to you as your last words seemed most fitting even in a text message. And, I also believe that heroism is born out of self-lessness, to use your experience and skill to help others is the one decent act of humanity that will never be forgotten. I was in awe of that miracle, and believe 'fate' and luck play a part in the destiny of those 155 lives. Life is precious.

Finally, I had flown a lot in the last 4 years while living at Hong Kong, at least 2 round-trips across the Pacific Ocean every year. No matter how many trips I made, I dreaded the whole experience of flying. There's always a 2-3% chance that a plane can go wrong. And, we've all seen and heard about plane crashes that happen to 'other' people and their families. But, can it happen to me? So, every time a plane takes off on the runway, I literally say a silent PRAYER.

And, God forbid if anything was to happen or go wrong during the long flight, such as the pilot coming onto the intercom to say ' brace for impact,' I would pray and recite Psalm 23. And, I had thought about key questions that would probably enter my consciousness if I had about 30 minutes left before impact, I think I would ask myself - 'did I live my life well?' "Is there anyone or anything I would like to say or do that I didn't get to do in my life?" And, hopefully I would answer "NO" as those questions would have guided my life so far up to the point of death. Then, even if I was to die in a plane crash, I wish forever to be in peace. And, as the guest who had survived a plane crash in the Oprah Show said that he would like to live his life in a way that if he was to leave, a bright aura would be emanating from his soul. I wish for the same.