What are the odds of being in the one percent? According to the “probability level,” it’s rare. Recently, I have become aware of what this truly means.

   Some friends of ours booked a trip to go to the Dominican last August. This was the first time Scott and I had ever traveled with a group. 

   Over the course of fall and winter, we anxiously waited and began the vacation countdown.

   The day arrives. We’re up early to meet our friends and head to the airport. It was a busy morning flying out and the lines were long. We waited about 45 minutes to get to security.

   I show my passport to the agent and proceed to put my stuff in the bins for scanning. I had to use two bins, since I had a laptop. I go through the metal detector and go to my bins. I was hurrying to get all my stuff and move out of the way of the people coming behind me. 

   We stopped at the restaurant on the other side of security. We took a picture, grabbed a bite to eat and headed towards the boarding gate. We check in and wait. 

   Finally, the door opens and boarding begins. I open my backpack to grab my passport book - but it’s not there. I start a mild panic. Scott helped me empty my bag - nothing. I thought I must have left it at TSA. 

   I sprinted through the airport and get to security. I went to the desk and told them what happened. 

   A security agent and I went over to the bins to start looking. No passport book. I ran over to the restaurant to see if I possibly left it there - it wasn’t... I scan the floor as I am running back to the gate. The flight was being delayed for me.

   I get back to the gate and the attendants are helping me. I looked everywhere; I even emptied the garbage because I threw something away...    

   We looked through my backpack once again. Nothing. The flight has to leave, but there is another one at 10 am. The tears flowed but I tried to remain hopeful. 

  The gate attendants put out an alert for a lost passport and TSA did the same. We contacted the airport police to let them know. I walked back again looking everywhere.

   I met up with one of the security guards. He brought up the video camera when I came in the line. The passport was visible in my hand. He asked me to bring my carry-on over and completely empty it. He said, “In my experience, 99% of the time, people will find what they are looking for.”

   The passport wasn’t there. I slowly came to the realization; I was part of the one percent that did not find the lost item. I still didn't give up hope.

   Maybe somebody picked it up and turned it in? Maybe the restaurant found it? Maybe it slipped under a vending machine? There was no ruling out the unthinkable.

   We didn’t make the next flight Saturday and went home. I was in disbelief and shock. 

   Me, the organized, responsible one - how did this happen? These thoughts kept running through my mind, leaving peace far away.  Replay became a form of torment. 

   Over and over, wondering why I didn’t make sure my passport was in my bag before going in the bin. I couldn’t stop it. 

   We were told at the Delta gate that there is a passport office in Minneapolis and you can get an emergency passport within hours. An appointment was required.

   The Minneapolis passport office was full. We found Denver had an opening Monday, Feb. 26 at 9:30 am. We made the appointment. 

   Our good friends, who were already in the Dominican, booked us a flight to Denver, Sunday evening. They also booked us a hotel in Denver that night. We had an adjacent flight Monday at midnight to Charlotte, which would connect a flight to the Dominican, Tuesday morning. 

   An adventure was about to begin.

   We boarded our flight to Denver. We haven’t flown at night before, this was new to us. It wasn’t long and we arrived in Denver. We checked in at the hotel and got to our room around one in the morning. Needless to say, we were exhausted, but anxious, as a big day awaited. 

   We get to the passport agency. It was busy. I get to the counter and explain what happened. I filled out the paperwork and provided our travel plans to the Dominican.

   The office closes at noon and reopens around two, at which time you will find out if you were approved and receive a new passport. We went for lunch and walked around. I knew in my heart that God would see everything through. We didn’t come this far to be denied. 

   I am back sitting in the agency at two, waiting for my name to be called. Finally, a half hour later, there it is, a brand new passport, all ready to go. I was estatic! Just 24 hours early, we were desperately searching for a way to go on our trip. Thankful for our friends who helped us  and didn't give up. And, for answered prayers. 

   We went back to the Denver airport until midnight to catch our connecting flight to Charlotte. We tried to rest on the plane, but we were excited to catch up with our friends. There was a two hour layover before heading to Punta Cana. 

   Finally, after the past couple of days, we were on the way. I stared out the window, with childlike anticipation. Soon, we would be basking in the warmth of the Caribbean and the love of good friends. Our vacation was finally about to begin.

   I can’t help but wonder why everything happened like it did. I know there’s a reason, but it’s beyond my comprehension. I always believe there is something good that comes out of trying times. And, in more ways than I can say, it did.