Rare Double Post

I wanted to share some thoughts from on board the ship, but it didn't quite seem to fit the Day #5 post, so the following ruminations get their own post.

After feeling a bit lonely and isolated, I was sent two gifts on Day #5.

First, I was in the ship's internet cafe when I heard someone say, "Oh shoot, I never know how to work these keyboards." Turns out, the soruce of the frustration was a nice couple from California I was able to help out and had a nice 30 minute conversation with. So far, at the hostels I've stayed at, it's been a steady diet of Germans, Asians, other Scandinavians, and one couple from New Zealand. Point being, it was nice to talk to some Americans.

Second, I watched the movie Angels and Demons on board the ship. MY other choice was Star Trek and I had only seen that one several times (and as recently as the flight over the Atlantic), so my choice was pretty clear.

Note: at this point, if you haven't seen the movie or read the book, I'm about to spoil the ending for you.

I understand the Catholic church weren't big fans of this movie, I understand that in principle, but Ron Howard made some changes to the book that dramatically altered the ending, in a good way.

In the book, the four cardinals who were the front runners to be pope are kidnapped and all are killed. The new pope is the former great elector, being pretty much the last man standing.

But in the movie, RObert Langdon is able to save the last of the prefeti and it is that cardinal that is elected Pope, with the former great elector as his chamberlain. At the end, as the Pope is prepared to be annoucned to the world, the chamberlain turns to Langdon and tells him that he is happy God sent LAngdon to save the church. Langdon isn't so sure and tells the chamberlain that he doesn't think God sent him. TO which the chamberlain replies, "Oh my son, of course He did." And the movie ends as the camera pans to see the new Pope (who Langdon saved, remember) greeting the masses in St. Peter's Square.

The message to me was obvious, we may not know what we're doing and why we're doing it, but God has plans for us, all for His purposes. All we can do is do what we're doing to the best of our ability and know that soomeone else is looking out for the bigger picture!