We are there, seeing it happen, moment by moment. We witness the tragedies and ache with the horror they elicit, but we also grab on to the acts of heroism that stun us with their sacrifice. Watching these events always bring about a time of introspection. How would I react in such a situation? Is there a hero in the person sitting beside me? Is there a hero in me?While traveling I have met many fascinating people who’ve sat in the seats beside me on airplanes. It’s interesting how sometimes we click, and sometimes we barely speak. Why is that? Is it part of God’s plan to have us seated next to each other? Wouldn’t it be fascinating to find out this answer? To understand that it isn’t a coincidence?The combination of a catastrophe and heroism was the impetus for The Seat Beside Me. Place people next to seatmates who affect their lives. Have them crash soon after meeting. And make one of them a hero—though he doesn’t even know it.Little did I know how emotionally draining writing this book would be.
