December 11, 2013

[retirees & the Rhine]

Here I am..

Sailing aboard the MS River Melody with 139 of my closest retired friends (I really should look into the details a bit more when my parents ask if I want to accompany them on a European river cruise.. four letters: A-A-R-P). Just finished editing my list of belongings that were in my 50.5 pound suitcase before it was lost. I will then send it to Lufthansa airlines in hopes of obtaining full reimbursement (crossing my fingers). We're on to Day 6 of the trip, and the suitcase has yet to be located. It has to be somewhere between Tulsa, DC, Munich, Frankfurt, and Basel - I'm sure of it. Yesterday I learned how to wash clothes in my sink with the detergent the airline provided me with in my overnight amenity kit - a skill any 24 year old should be proud to flaunt.
 
From my point of view, there are 2 ways to approach the matter at hand:
 
1. Get upset and let the fact that I have two outfits ruin my trip. I'm smelly, a bit irritable, and SMELLY.
2. Get over it and embrace the fact that life happens, and right now I'm on a European adventure!
 
I'll take the latter.
 
But really. I was feeling a little upset when I realized there was a large possibility that I might not ever get those clothes back due to the fact that my luggage hasn't even been located. There go my new jeans and sweaters.. WAIT. Am I REALLY getting upset over clothing?!
 
I have other clothes.
 
Things could be MUCH worse. These are a few outfits we're talking about here (okay, more like 12, but that's alright). I didn't lose my house, my car, my friends, my family, my health.. my life.
 
Suddenly.. things got a little bit brighter.
 
All I'm trying to say here is life happens. We get laid off, we have a bad breakup, we have to buy underwear from the local super market (truth).. so clearly my case is the least dramatic when compared to the first two. Regardless.. are we going to let it ruin our day, our week, our year.. our life?!
 
And that's where you have to put your foot down. I'm choosing to roll with it - will you?
 
So do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
--Matthew 6:31-34
 
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
--Matthew 6:19-21