4 Keys to Soar Above Life’s Challenging Circumstances
When challenging circumstances arise, will you soar above them?
Life’s Challenging Circumstances
Recently I watched The Terminal movie for the second or third time. The film is a comedy-drama directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Stanley Tucci.
Viktor Navorski (Hanks) is a non-English speaking Eastern European man who left his home in Krakozhia for a short visit to New York. After arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Viktor learns that Krakozhia has fallen in a coup.
U.S. Customs takes Viktor’s passport and tells him that he is not authorized to enter the United States. Viktor is thus stuck in the terminal’s international transit lounge with a suitcase and peanut can for God knows how long.
Lack of Money but Not Resources
Viktor has no money. He makes sandwiches out of the crackers, ketchup, and mustard that he finds at a fast food eatery.
Observant, Viktor sees coins coming out of a machine every time a luggage cart is returned to the rack. Viktor starts collecting and returning as many luggage carts as he can. He uses the money to buy a hamburger, later a meal.
Honest and kind, Viktor makes friends with airport employees. One employee starts giving him food in exchange for Viktor’s help as a matchmaker.
Industrious and upbeat, Viktor ingeniously finds employment as an airport contractor after he remodeled a wall at a gate that was scheduled for future renovation.
Viktor also meets and woos a flight attendant named Amelia Warren. Amelia really likes Viktor. But she is in a relationship with a married man that she never totally breaks off.
When Viktor reveals to Amelia what is in the peanut can, she asks her married friend (a government official) to give Viktor a one-day emergency visa to go to New York City.
Circumstances Change
At about that time, the war in Krakozhia ends. Viktor can go home. Dixon wants him to go home. But Viktor’s friends convince him he’s come too far not to go into the City.
More drama ensues. Dixon, whose signature is required on the one-day visa, tries to block Viktor from leaving the terminal. He threatens to cause trouble for Viktor’s friends, including deporting Gupta the janitor back to India. So, Viktor agrees to go back to Krakozhia.
Selfless Friends Soar Above and Rally in Support
But then, Viktor’s friends help him. Gupta no longer cares about being deported. He runs out on the tarmac in front of the plane going to Krakozhia. This causes a delay in the plane’s departure and Gupta’s sure deportation.
Dixon ordered the chief police officer to stop Viktor from leaving the terminal. Instead, the officer gives Viktor his coat and opens the door so he can go out. Viktor steps outside the airport terminal into the brisk air and into a taxicab to New York City where he accomplishes his mission before going back to Krakozhia.
Soar Above Life’s Challenging Circumstances
- Keep a Good Attitude
Humility, gentleness, kindness, goodness, and a positive attitude will always rule the day.
- Take Positive Action
Start where you are. Use your talents. Each day, do what you can to better your circumstances.
- Don’t Settle – Soar Above
One definition of settle is to sit or come to rest in a comfortable position. In the film, Amelia got comfortable and settled for the familiar, in her case, a dead-end relationship.
The opposite is to stand up and take off. Viktor stands up, takes off, and soars above the fray.
- Stay Focused on the Mission
Viktor’s mission was tied to the contents of a peanut can.
Viktor’s late father loved jazz and vowed to collect signatures (autographs) of the 57 musicians featured in “A Great Day in Harlem” photograph. He died before he could get the last one. Viktor came to New York to obtain tenor saxophonist Benny Golson’s signature to add to the 56 others in his peanut can—all to honor his father.
After a nine-month delay, Viktor leaves the terminal and takes a cab into the City. He goes into the hotel where Benny Golson is performing. He meets Benny Golson, is overjoyed at watching him play, and then obtains his autograph. Mission accomplished, Viktor gets back into the cab and says, “I am going home.”
***
What is your pursuit? Will you take the steps necessary to soar above life’s challenging circumstances to fulfill it? Please feel free to post your comments.
***
Capazin Thornton is a Christian speaker and author in Orange County, California.
One Response
This was so refreshing and so true. If we will go back to the basics and remember what is really important we will be so much happier!! This has truly put a smile on my face today!! Thank you Cap for such a wonderful blessing this morning !!!