Day 35 - Kuwait
After work today I lingered around the office for a while. I was in no hurry to go back to the hotel, so I poked around and treated myself to a scoop of Baskin-Robbins ice cream - some Cappucino Crunch thingy. It tasted like tiramisu in ice cream form, with little chunks of espresso chocolate and crunch thrown in for good measure. That has to be a fun job - inventing new flavors for Baskin-Robbins. I wonder how one goes about getting into something like that.
I finally headed back to the hotel. Today was particularly humid, as my sunglasses instantaneously fogged up when I stepped out of the car. Undaunted, I trudged back up to my hotel room to unwind before going out to play tennis. By now I can't blame the heat, and I can't blame the humidity: 2-6, before calling it a night. My shirt and shorts were soaked through within 10 minutes of being outside. And chasing down shots added to the fun (!). Yes, this time I got my heart rate up and maintained it, all while sweating to where I felt I was in a shower.
After tennis I ran down the street to pick up my laundry and a small bite for dinner. Getting back to the room I finally shed my soaked clothing, hopped in the shower and am ready for bed.
As I'm fond of saying around here, "Just another day in paradise."
Yes, that comment does earn me a few strange looks around here. But the fact of the matter is no matter where you find yourself, you can always improve the situation by looking at it in a positive light. I realize there are some things you can't possibly think yourself out of. But focusing on the good elements of a situation helps you appreciate two things:
1. It's not as bad as it seems.
2. It could certainly be worse.
Over and over again, I find myself with the opportunity to whine. My natural tendency towards detail can lead me into a self-defeating spiral of self-criticism with no end. That's why God did not place us in isolation. He placed us in community, just as he himself exists in perfect community as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Consider the writer of Hebrews, who wrote: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV)
If it weren't for that "great cloud of witnesses", we would not be compelled to persevere. (BTW, the witnesses that are described in Hebrews 11 make a phenomenal read, especially verses 32-40). Moreover, the writer exhorts us to "fix our eyes on Jesus" because he knows that when we look at ourselves, we can become depressed. If we look at others, we can be disappointed. But looking at Jesus delivers us from despair and hopelessness. As he writes in verse 3, when we think of what Jesus went through in life, we will not lose heart.
Jesus put up with much more than a "bad hair day". He had people in high places who despised him to the point that they obsessed about killing him. All because he loved them and wanted to bring them into a right relationship with God.
Encouraged, I press forward - thanking God for who he is, and all that he has done for me. "Count your blessings, name them one by one - And it will surprise you what the Lord has done!"
Blessed beyond measure,
Khalaf.
I finally headed back to the hotel. Today was particularly humid, as my sunglasses instantaneously fogged up when I stepped out of the car. Undaunted, I trudged back up to my hotel room to unwind before going out to play tennis. By now I can't blame the heat, and I can't blame the humidity: 2-6, before calling it a night. My shirt and shorts were soaked through within 10 minutes of being outside. And chasing down shots added to the fun (!). Yes, this time I got my heart rate up and maintained it, all while sweating to where I felt I was in a shower.
After tennis I ran down the street to pick up my laundry and a small bite for dinner. Getting back to the room I finally shed my soaked clothing, hopped in the shower and am ready for bed.
As I'm fond of saying around here, "Just another day in paradise."
Yes, that comment does earn me a few strange looks around here. But the fact of the matter is no matter where you find yourself, you can always improve the situation by looking at it in a positive light. I realize there are some things you can't possibly think yourself out of. But focusing on the good elements of a situation helps you appreciate two things:
1. It's not as bad as it seems.
2. It could certainly be worse.
Over and over again, I find myself with the opportunity to whine. My natural tendency towards detail can lead me into a self-defeating spiral of self-criticism with no end. That's why God did not place us in isolation. He placed us in community, just as he himself exists in perfect community as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Consider the writer of Hebrews, who wrote: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV)
If it weren't for that "great cloud of witnesses", we would not be compelled to persevere. (BTW, the witnesses that are described in Hebrews 11 make a phenomenal read, especially verses 32-40). Moreover, the writer exhorts us to "fix our eyes on Jesus" because he knows that when we look at ourselves, we can become depressed. If we look at others, we can be disappointed. But looking at Jesus delivers us from despair and hopelessness. As he writes in verse 3, when we think of what Jesus went through in life, we will not lose heart.
Jesus put up with much more than a "bad hair day". He had people in high places who despised him to the point that they obsessed about killing him. All because he loved them and wanted to bring them into a right relationship with God.
Encouraged, I press forward - thanking God for who he is, and all that he has done for me. "Count your blessings, name them one by one - And it will surprise you what the Lord has done!"
Blessed beyond measure,
Khalaf.
