(Psalm 31:24) Be brave. Be strong. Don't give up. Expect God to get here soon.

Sitting on the eastern edge of the North Atlantic would not be my choice for the best place to be. The people of the Netherlands have no choice. Farmland resting at or below sea level ensures one gets the full brunt of the every storm coming through. Winters are long, fall and spring dreary, but oh the summers! Awesome times.

Each time I visit, I realize that my perceptions are so short sighted. I come with an attitude of "be brave, be strong, don't give up! Spring is coming soon." Dutch people just do not have this attitude. Winter is a time for celebration! You can ride bicycles in rain just as well as sunshine. Dull March days are a time for planning gardens not hiding in the house!

This attitude came through without interruption on Friday morning. The plane came in late. Many on the flight were just arriving home after connecting through London from Australia. Their tans were fresh and eyes dreary until they spotted the welcome party banners through custom's glass. The energy picked up and became infectious.

The luggage on our flight from London was only for half the passengers. The rest of us queued for the missing-luggage agent, wondering why we were the special ones. In every situation like this before the mood of the crowd would be tense with frustration. Not this one! Laughter echoed in the room, and soon Aboriginal instruments were sneaking out of hand luggage filling every nook and cranny with sounds of the Australian outback.

I realized our time is not a time for anger and weakness about things beyond our control, it is a time for laughter, celebration, and hope for things to come!

What would happen if I lived this attitude out in every situation?

People would see hope not fear. People would smile not frown. People would feel grace not hate.

Be strong, be brave, and do not give up hope! God will be here soon.

—Bill Ashlock