Delayed and Cancelled - what to do

We sat on the plane for thirty minutes then heard that the flight was cancelled due to technical difficulties. Well, I guess it's better to have technical difficulties while on the ground rather than half way across the ocean!

We had just finished our first marriage retreat in Puerto Rico with eight couples. It was a wonderful experience but now we had a bunch of appointments and business to attend to on our return home. 

Until the flight got cancelled. 

Listen to the podcast here - https://www.heaveninbusiness.com/podcasts/authentic-conversations-with-andy-janine-mason/episodes/2148640339

We now had two options.

1. Freak out. Panic.

Experience mild anxiety. Scramble. Hustle to change bookings. Grab a red eye with another airline. Get frustrated and angry with the United slow-no-help-desk and the 1-2 hour waiting line to get to the frazzled employee. Get frustrated with my wife for no reason. Get frustrated with the passenger who is ridiculously unprepared and slow and taking 100 times longer than needed  at the counter.

OR

2. See this as an invitation to adventure.

Realize everyone, including United Airlines, is in the same position. This is what you have travel insurance and teams for. God is not surprised. or worried. Actually, Heaven is at perfect peace. Then so can I. 

We CHOSE option 2.

We spoke kindly to the United help desk (that wasn't particularly helpful because the system hadn't updated yet). We tried booking on the same flight the next day (turning down the crazy red-eye scramble in exchange for a pleasant nights sleep). That flight was full. So we eventually booked TWO DAYS later on the same flight.

We did some calls and some online booking and secured a nearby hotel and a rental car.

We spoke to Kylie (Heaven In Business executive assistant), who moved around appointments due to the changes.

We let our kids know.

And we breathed... intentionally.... deeply. This is going to be ok. What adventure is available BECAUSE of the delay? What opportunity for learning BECAUSE of the delay? What gifts and surprises BECAUSE of the delay?

We had dinner with some of the marriage retreat guests who were staying longer in Puerto Rico... at a rooftop restaurant... overlooking the ocean.

We got a text from friends... "Check out the Rio Camuy Caverns"

So we drove an hour and a half in our free upgraded Hertz rental car (to a Ford Bronco sport). And we did the caverns tour. Beautiful. 

We got back to the hotel in time to host our weekly global Heaven in Business community call. And the theme was Psalm 40 - patiently waiting on God to come through! And He always does!!!

Then we went out to the mall and a steak dinner. 

The next morning we grabbed our snorkeling gear and checked out two locations in San Juan. Beautiful water. Beautiful fish. Beautiful company.

Then we packed up, returned the rental and grabbed our (also delayed) flight home.

What's the point?

A) You will have delays and cancellations in life. It's inevitable.

B) Choose NOW what you will do when that happens. Choose adventure. Choose invitation. Trust God. And have a plan (travel insurance, team members trained, someone to look after the dog...)

C) Then go have fun and adventure. Make new memories. Share the joy. And remember, ice cream always helps 🤪.

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