Protocol Without Purpose: A TSA Experience That Made Me Rethink Life’s Rules

The day before Christmas Eve, we were going through security at the Kansas City airport, headed back to Atlanta after visiting family in Kansas. I had just walked through the metal detector while holding my squirmy, rambunctious toddler.

I’d already been through the TSA ritual—jacket off, shoes off, laptop out of the bag, and, a new one for me—sweatshirt off to avoid a mandatory pat-down. I cleared without a beep and began the chaotic task of collecting our belongings from the X-ray belt while still juggling a restless toddler.

Just as I was attempting to "redress" and put all our stuff back together, a TSA agent returned the bottom half of our stroller and informed me it had flagged their system for possible contact with an explosive substance.

(Considering the mischievous two-year-old occupant of this stroller, this didn’t seem entirely out of the realm of possibility.🤣)

Protocol, she explained, required a pat-down and a carry-on luggage inspection. But then came the best part: I got to choose who in our group would endure the extra screening.

Naturally, I volunteered my husband, Steve.🤷🏻‍♀️(I’m an ask-for-forgiveness-instead-of-permission kind of girl.😆)

As they led Steve off for a pat-down by a particularly burly agent, our oldest son, Guy (who, of course, had to document this on his phone), and I stood back and watched. Steve, in true form, began making slightly inappropriate jokes—which, judging by the look on the TSA agent’s face, did not land.👀

Once Steve and his carry-on were declared clear of explosives, we headed to our gate, laughing about the ridiculousness of the situation.

Later, though, the absurdity of it all really began to sink in.

There were three adults traveling together, yet I—the one connected to the flagged stroller—was allowed to pick someone else for screening. How did that make any sense? Wouldn’t it have been more logical to check everyone in our party—especially the person pushing the stroller—to ensure safety? Isn’t the whole objective of the protocol to eliminate the risk of potential threats?

After pondering this, I couldn’t help but wonder: how many times do we follow protocols and routines without considering their purpose? How often do we go through the motions, forgetting why we’re doing them in the first place?

👉🏼We hustle and grind for money and success, but sacrifice our most valuable commodity—time with the people we love.

👉🏼We stockpile resources “for a rainy day” while our neighbor goes without.

👉🏼We become so focused on trying to capture perfect moments with photos and videos that we miss out on actually living in the moments we’re trying to capture.

👉🏼We create routines to help us be more mindful, but then allow those routines to become nothing more than a rigid checklist.

👉🏼We diet and work out obsessively, aiming for some picture of perfection instead of enjoying the movement of our bodies and giving gratitude for our health.

👉🏼We argue and lose friendships over political parties and views, forgetting the price of freedom that was paid and that “we the people” have the power to stand united.

👉🏼We harshly judge others based on man-made religious protocol instead of sharing the love of God and simply letting our light shine to help someone who is alone in the darkness.

Do you see my point? What good is protocol without purpose?

My TSA experience was a silly moment that served as a powerful reminder of how easily we can spend our lives following the rules while forgetting the “why” behind them.

Instead of finding joy in making a positive impact through a life well lived, we can find ourselves staring in the rearview mirror at a life spent simply “checking the boxes.”

Maybe we should pause and ask ourselves this question: Are the steps I’m taking moving me toward the life I’m called to live? Am I focusing on what truly matters, or just blindly following the rules?

✅Let’s slow down.

✅Let’s look at the big picture.

✅Let’s consider our ways.

✅Let’s watch and pray.

✅Let’s make sure we have purpose in our plan.

After all, at the end of our earthly lives, when we reach our final checkpoint, regardless of the protocol, we won’t have the option to choose someone else to take our place.

So, let’s arrive at that gate carrying only the memories of a life well lived, a heart well given in love, and a purpose beautifully complete.✈️🩵