Taking Flight

August 19th, 2023

Although we finished writing The Butterfly Effect in July, the stories have kept coming. Today was an especially moving day. I went to see my mom before my flight to Singapore. My godson, Ethan, a ballet dancer and a brother in Christ, was riding in the car with me to the airport. We were both travelling on the same flight, but for different reasons: he was visiting family, while I was on a business trip.

Just outside our window, not long after we left my mom’s house, Ethan spotted an enormous butterfly. I remembered the lantern fly that said goodbye to me in New York City last year (see chapter, 'A Good Father') and felt grateful that this was another butterfly experience I could share with a dancer who knew Jesus. Last time, I was on my way out of the Michael Jackson musical, and I had Tsz Wa, a Hong Kong champion breakdancer, on my mind. Little did I know, this would not be the last magical butterfly connection...

Ethan’s goodbye butterfly

At the Cathay Pacific check-in desk, I was humbled to find out that I had been upgraded, and my seat had been changed. This was already a big blessing, but as I boarded the plane, I was overcome with a wave of emotion: I walked in to see that my assigned place, 2K, was the same as the one Bruce had sat in on our last flight together from San Francisco to Hong Kong, in October 2019 (see chapter, 'Heading Home'). It was in the same corner, with the same layout, on the same airline, and it was one of our happiest shared memories. Later that night, Phoebe confirmed that it was indeed the same seat (2K) as the flight almost four years ago.

To make the day even more memorable, the flight attendant looking after our cabin, Yvonne, had prepared a card on the table in front of me. Before I could even read her words, I noticed a tiny orange origami friend hanging off the corner. I knew it was normal for Cathay to welcome frequent flyers like this, but I couldn’t believe they would include something so specific and colourful. When I asked Yvonne about it, she confirmed that both the words in the card and the extra orange butterfly were her personal touch, not protocol. I almost choked up when I heard that, and I thanked her with all my heart. I could not help but spend the rest of the flight thinking about Bruce and the love we had for one another.

The journey was short and sweet, and Yvonne even let Ethan come to my cabin for a short nap in a sleeping seat before landing. We were both amazed at the connection between the card and the butterfly we had seen in the morning. After we touched down, the customs check was pretty smooth, and it wasn't long before Ethan dropped me at my hotel and we said goodbye.

Later that evening, my longtime friend, Johnnie, took me to the garden by the bay after dinner at a friend’s home. As we entered the parking garage, I couldn't believe what I saw on the supporting pillars... This was truly a butterfly day from beginning to end!"

Praise God for His everlasting love!

“If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there."

— Psalm 139:8