Ben Was at the Airport in Brussels Today

Thank God, he's OK.

Ben and four colleagues had just landed in Brussels and entered the airport terminal when they heard an announcement to turn around and head in the opposite direction.  Not sure what was happening, they complied.  Moments later another announcement sent them in yet another direction.  The next announcement had them exiting the building where they stood on the tarmac wondering what in the world was happening.

The evacuation was calm, but the look on the airport employees faces let them know something serious had gone down.

Thousands of people attempting to call or get online clogged the cell service, so they continued to be in the dark.  He and his friends decided to move away from the crowd as much as possible and assess the situation.

They still didn't know the extent of the damage but knew they needed to get away from the airport.

It was at about this time cell service came back online, and then they could see they were in the middle of chaos caused by a bomb.  Two bombs in fact.

One of his colleagues thought to contact their Berlin office and the folks there were able to secure them hotel rooms about five minutes away.  A cab miraculously appeared, taking them there.  That's where he was when he contacted me.

I knew he was traveling, but I didn't realize he was going to Brussels, so when I got his email, I was in shock.

Truth be told, so was he.

Ben is my living, breathing miracle.

This is the third time his life has been spared.

He was living in Indonesia in 2004 when the tsunami hit but had gone to Europe for training.  On his way back to Indonesia, he stopped by Sacramento, to spend Christmas with me.  Also, there was a last minute problem with his visa; that would have delayed him returning to Indonesia anyway.

So when the tsunami struck, he was home.

There was massive destruction in the country, so Ben never did return to Indonesia but was transferred to Texas instead.

Seven months later, in July 2005, while living outside of Fort Worth, Ben was struck by an 18-wheeler as a pedestrian while on the job.  He was put in a medically induced coma, and for the first two weeks, we weren't sure he was going to make it.   Thank God, twenty-three surgeries later, he's perfectly fine.

And now this tragedy today.

There was no doubt before, but today's incident seals it.  Ben is my miracle.

God is watching over my child.

May He continue to watch over us all.