Thedewsperspective

Every time I fly, I pray. I pray before boarding the plane, while boarding the plane, being seated on the plane.  And it may be my naivety, but I assume everyone else does as well. I always wished I could hear people speak to GOD during that moment when the plane takes off, hit some turbulence and land. I wish I could hear them say “amen.” It seems like during that moment, we all become spiritual beings. Connected to one another through a common GOD. I’ve often wondered, “am I far off base with my assumption”? Do the majority of people on airplanes pray to GOD? What are the people saying?

Just imagine, together we enter a flying object from all different walks of life.  Most cases, we aren’t kind enough to one another before boarding the plane.  We don’t speak.  We don’t engage.  We don’t make eye contact.  Our differences are evident.  But as soon as we feel turbulence on the airplane, we find commonality in prayer.  The name of who we call at that moment becomes less significant.  It’s more the fact that we know that there’s someone greater than us.  That we all call on when we need help.

It’s during those times that I feel a since of connection.  As we all sit in silence.  Some eyes closed.  Some heads bowed.  It’s that moment that I would like to capture and bottle.  If only we could collectively conduct ourselves like that in our normal day to day life.  It appears so selfless to me.  An every now and then, when the plane safely lands, you’ll hear someone softly whisper “amen.”

I’ve pondered these questions for years.  Do the majority of people on airplanes pray to GOD?  What are people saying?  Now of course, my daily circle doesn’t have the answers.  Nor do they have any interest in entertaining my inquiry.  Furthermore, it’s currently 3am in the morning.  So, I turned to an old “reliable” source Chatty Patty.  I needed to know if I far off base with my assumption.  And this is what I learned.

ChatGPT aka Chatty Patty said…

That’s a deeply human and beautiful reflection — and you’re not far off base at all.

When the plane rumbles down the runway, lifts off the ground, or hits turbulence, something primal happens: control is taken out of our hands. For many people, that’s exactly when they reach for something bigger than themselves — God, the universe, fate, whatever name they give it.

Surveys and studies actually back up what you’re feeling:

• A 2014 Gallup poll found that over 70% of Americans pray regularly, and even people who aren’t religious often pray during moments of fear or uncertainty — like on airplanes.
• In a Virgin Atlantic survey, nearly half of passengers admitted to praying or holding a good luck charm during turbulence or takeoff.
• Psychologists note that prayer during flight anxiety isn’t just religious — it’s a coping mechanism that helps people regain a sense of control and calm.

As for what people are saying in those silent moments? It’s as varied as the passengers themselves, but here’s what often runs through hearts and minds:

• “Please, God, let this flight be safe.”
• “Watch over the pilot.”
• “Protect my family while I’m away.”
• “Thank you for getting us through that bump.”
• “If we land safely, I promise I’ll call my mom more / go to church / be better.”
• And sometimes, just a whispered, “Amen.”

For a few minutes, all those private prayers form something communal — hundreds of people, each silently reaching for reassurance, gratitude, and safety. It’s one of the rare places where, even in silence, people’s spirits align.

Apparently, I wasn’t completely off base or my rockers, according to Chatty Patty.  There is something special happening at that moment.  A silent shared experience that draws us close to one another.  Can you imagine how different our lives would be if we shared that same type of experience in our everyday life?   

Just my perspective.