BRASIL: day 12 - Regozijai! (Rejoice!)

[November 9, 2007] Here's the short version. We were in the same plane all day, got in five hours late, ate dinner, and went to bed.

Now, here's the long version. We were in the same plane from 1:00 to 10:30 PM because of bad weather, got to Belo Horizonte five hours late after stopping in Rio (which is like an hour in the wrong direction) and coming back to the airport reopened, ate a late dinner near our very nice hotel, and then went to bed. Not really much to tell about today except people were not happy.

We are some audacious people to complain about things like unscheduled stops and delayed flights. It could be so much worse. We could have not come on this amazing trip in the first place. We could have not even been in this ministry doing what we do and getting to travel and see the world. We could be dying in a hospital bed or nursing home because we can't take care of ourselves. We could be dying on the streets somewhere because nobody cared enough to help us out.

So, I'm making a new pact with myself and whomever will join me. I will not complain anymore while I am on this trip. Jesus said, "Do everything without grumbling or complaining." I encourage those of you who are chronic complainers to take one day, maybe today (or tomorrow if it's too late in the evening today) and just try not complaining. I know it will improve your mood, which will improve your day. Complaining won't solve anything. It only raises your blood pressure and speeds up the aging process (gray hair, balding, ulcers, wrinkles, etc.). So, the next time you start to complain, remember there are people who have it way worse than you and they aren't complaining because Jesus told them (and us) not to.

Tell you what. Instead of complaining, let's find things to rejoice about. Zac is feeling much better today. That's a start. What else? My knees don't hurt much at all. Yay for that. So, here it is. Today I will rejoice because I'm alive, well, working, and a child of the King. What will you rejoice about today?

Peace, Love, and Chocolate