The ocean waves, tropical air, and vibrantly green palms overflowing with coconuts along the South Pacific play the musical notes in the breeze that calm my heart and slow down my brain. Alone at last, this is just the kind of break I have needed from a long airplane flight as well as the process of rejoining a family with two independent, 20 something adult offspring on vacation once again.

Traveling across the Pacific by plane to visit my adult daughter living in Australia on a work travel visa, I had mixed feelings. Excitement and anticipation rose for our meetup after almost a year of not chatting face to face.

At the same time, I felt extremely uncomfortable in my aisle seat smothered and pressed against by a huge young man who definitely could have been a tsunami I mean Sumo wrestler seated in the center seat next to me.

Throughout the flight we passively fought for space and territory. I could not avoid the fleshy muscles portruding from over and under the armrest and from constant knees, legs and feet in my space.

Thankfully I had my sound reduction headphones on as the engaged sleep apnea breathing machine covering my neighbor’s face was far from quiet and still.

The tension, excitement, frustration, noise, movement, and anticipation all mixed together in this tight space leading to a state of overwhelm. My thoughts clouded and that feeling of vast lostness flooded my brain. I breathed. Stood up. Walked the aisles. Prayed.

I remembered the truth. I embraced and activated belief. “I am seated in Christ in heavenly places”. I boldly entered into the throneroom and recognized my royal seat in my King. I felt immediate peace and grace and sensed an overflow to all the people seated around me.

The reunion of father, mother, and son with daughter and sister was lovely! However, the next few days reminded me of how I felt in that crowded and uncomfortable airplane seat.

All of us passively pressing around looking for ways to merge yet stay seperate. Our family identity, boundaries and roles confused and constrained by our fears and needs and lies we believe and shifted and shaken around by our growth.

Love. The remedy was love. Love, forgiveness, and never holding on to offense all the while pressing in and making way for a new day overflowing with freedom to live and let live seated in the higher places in love.