Reason To Be

Disney Nerds abound on a Disney cruise. There are those of us that make sure to have our pirate outfits at the ready. With vicious, plastic sabers and eye patches, we strut our stuff and tell pirate jokes. We have begun Disney Bounding when we cruise with our kids. That means dressing with a hint of a character without going all in with a costume, which isn’t allowed for adults anyway. Super fun.

We enjoy going to the trivia games. Because Ronald and I didn’t have the usual backup this time, we failed miserably at the Disney trivia challenge. We had fun anyway.

A young couple was among the contestants. We had seen them earlier in the elevator. I was impressed they were singing along and knew every word to the music that is piped throughout the ship. They blew everyone else away with a perfect score in the game and won a coveted Disney medallion.

Overhearing part of a conversation afterward between the couple left me troubled. I’m not sure what was meant or what her comment referred to. She said, “If I didn’t have this, I’d have nothing to live for.” I pray that was an exaggeration.

That got me to thinking about what I am living for.

One hears on the news about performers and sports people who give up on life when their careers are no longer successful. On the other hand, there are people who have lived their best years but keeping hanging on. My mom (age 90) says God must keep her here to pray for others. Accepting our limitations and having a clear vision of our purpose seems to be a healthy life choice.

There are some that close one chapter of their stories and start writing a new one. Last year we met a couple who were tour boat guides. The husband had been a sailing instructor at an academy. His wife had been a chef aboard rich people’s yachts. At 65 she had gotten her pilot’s license to help drive the boat. They run two tours a day in season. Off season finds them sailing wherever life sends them. She was my new hero!

What am I living for? What new chapter am I willing to try to write? Those are today’s ponderings.

Blessings

KB

Psalm 92:12, 14, 15

But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. Even in old age they will still produce fruit;  they will remain vital and green. They will declare, “The Lord is just! He is my rock!”