Wake Up Call in Paradise: Story and Reflection

In 2018, our annual mid-winter break took us to Hawaii with our adult daughters and our one grand-little at the time. We stayed together in an Airbnb, soaking up the warmth and beauty of the islands.

One morning, I took the grand in the stroller while the others split into two groups of runners heading in different directions. The day felt peaceful - until the alert hit.

I glanced down at my phone and saw the message "Emergency Alert BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL."

I did a double take, my mind struggling to process the words. My body moved before my brain caught up - I turned instinctively toward the house, but then slowed. "Go where???"

As I passed others on the path, their faces mirrored my own confusion. "Did you get it too?" as we held our phones up to each other, as if confirming the alert would make it more real - or maybe less real?

"What do I actually know about missile protection?" I remember climbing under desks in elementary school. That seems pretty useless.

"Maybe I should stay outside so nothing crashes on us? No - it said shelter. If it's nuclear, what kind of shelter would we access? How fast do they travel? Would it be coming from North Korea? How long before it arrives? Is there anything that can actually be done?"

A gardener on the Grand Hyatt grounds kept working on a palm tree. I asked if he saw it. He nodded. "Yes, but what is there to do but pray and continue to work?" He smiled and turned back to his landscaping. - Amazing to see that the threat didn't affect his love for his work.

It was surreal!

Thankfully - all 3 groups had the same idea. Back at the house, we all regrouped. Everyone was weirdly -- fairly composed. We divided tasks: Checking Google, Twitter, Local news channels, and national channels Strangely, there was no mention of the alert anywhere. No breaking news. "Is this even real?"

The only thing we learned was that in case of a nuclear blast, the safest option is to have as much concrete between you and the fallout as possible. Hmmm. (And no - bomb shelters don't show up on Google maps). "Does the Hyatt have an underground parking lot? Wouldn't we be crushed?"

A friend on a different island messaged me. Her friend at NORAD knew nothing except "This is not a drill."

I remember thinking, "at least we're together."

Everyone was eerily calm but fully present.

38 minutes after the initial alert, another message aired on our phones - "There is no missile threat or danger to the State of Hawaii. Repeat. False Alarm"

It's safe to say that the rest of our vacation felt different. The larger perspective that came from those 38 minutes made everything sharper - more meaningful. Joy and gratitude were intensified.

Reflection:

- Have you ever had a moment where time seemed to stop and our priorities became clear?

- The gardener's response was one of peaceful acceptance. What would you have to think or believe to have the same response?

- What perspective do you feel needs a shift for you now? How can you access that without a major alert?

- What's one thing you want to hold onto in case of a sudden event? Tuck that away.