Imagine you are a hardworking man, sitting in a plane with your wife and three kids seeing them excited with you after finally getting the dream of moving abroad with them. Next to your aisle, a mother and her son about to visit her daughter in law and grandchildren, excited to be on her first flight, video tapping every moment with a smile on her face.
Behind you, a young student who is the daughter of a hardworking rickshaw driver (a mode of transport in India) who earns the bare minimum, and who promised her father before entering the airport she would make him proud, after taking a photo outside the terminal.
While you are witnessing all these people getting tucked into their seats ready to taxi and take off, a friendly cabin crew member offers you a hot towel, and you chat with her to find out she is a famous travel influencer who showcases her journeys’ being an air hostess.
The captain announces the cabin to be seated for take-off, lines up to the runaway. As the engines roar you turn to see the people you saw just a few minutes ago, waiting to be airborne, and 30 seconds later, everything ends, fades to just memories.
Being grateful for every second of your life is the biggest blessing one can have”
Now, these are the true stories of the ill-fated Air India flight 171 crash that took place on June 12, 2025. 33 seconds after take-off, the plane plunged to the ground hitting a medical college hostel, killing everyone on board except for one miraculous survivor who had a few scratches and lifelong trauma, along with casualties on the ground.
As I watched this horrible incident unfold in my country, to my people, I realised one thing, life is more than just 70 or 80 years, it’s a matter of seconds. Being grateful for every second of your life is the biggest blessing one can have. Mathew 6:31 clearly reminds us that “So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?”. Why are we worried about things that will not shape us in anyway or form? God created us to be happy, spread positivity and love to every single person.
Blessings
Go to church, ask for forgiveness, receive the Eucharist, talk about peace and unity, especially in such a negative timeline we live in currently. Call that friend who you had an argument and ask for forgiveness, tell your family members how much you love them, laugh as loud as you can, do all the bucket lists you wanted to try, go meet new people and have that human connection.
Help the poor and needy, who are in most need for assistance whenever you can. In Mathew 25:40 Jesus mentions “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” This is a bible verse everyone should remember every minute of their life.
33 seconds after take-off, the plane plunged to the ground hitting a medical college hostel, killing everyone on board except for one miraculous survivor who had a few scratches and lifelong trauma, along with casualties on the ground”
I was reading Fr Rolheiser’s article last week, and the article was title ‘Are you a practicing catholic’. This article really opened my eyes, as he mentions that Jesus had just a few criteria’s such as feeding the poor, giving water to thirsty, welcome the refuge to name a few.
Life is fragile, and not all about money, status or fame, it’s about how you can be a better human than you were before. The true tragedy unfortunately I see in my generation is people striving away from God, and I pray and hope that they find His love and kindness and see his pure intentions for them, because the greatest tragedy isn’t death — it’s a life unlived.
Odds
I often think about the one person who survived, Gods miracle, he stood up and walked trying to contact his father over the phone and while everyone was trying to figure out on how they can get rid of the fire, there comes this man. Some would say he defeated death, but I say, God had bigger plans for him, a story to tell.
No one knows yet what happened to the aircraft as of writing this, but the aircraft in question is the Boeing 787-8, an ultra-modern aircraft by Boeing, which some pilots say is like piloting a spaceship, an extremely rare occurrence of what just happened. I pray for all the souls lost onboard and, on the ground, and the families who continue to mourn their loved once, who I hope, find their peace soon. God Bless.
While everyone was trying to figure out on how they can get rid of the fire, there comes this man. Some would say he defeated death, but I say, God had bigger plans for him, a story to tell”