The last week has been a roller coaster - high times followed by low ones.  What could be more exciting than going on a cruise to Western Caribbean?  Maybe having a book signing scheduled on the ship escalates the anticipation even more.  Plans were made and every detail, covered to make sure this would be a time of fun, relaxation, and book promoting.

Since Port Canaveral is a new port for the Norwegian Sun, the boarding process was less than efficient.  Still handling the inconveniences well, we were high with great expectations.  We noticed several same-sex couples in the queues, but thought little of it.  It wasn't until we were actually on board getting lunch at the buffet that the realization we were in the minority as a straight married couple.  Word quickly spread throughout the ship that, at the last minute, a tour agent arranged rooms for 540 homosexuals.  Needless to say, this brought quite a shock to our conservative religious mores.

Refusing to let this deter us, we, along with a couple traveling with us, found suitable entertainment - games of canasta, clean shows, Irish music, and etc.  The pool/hot tub area were filled with those late comers.

Following the instructions of the group coordinator, who had arranged my book signing for later in the week, I went to the front desk with my receipts showing where I had mailed three cartons of books.  Soon the group events coordinator on the ship approached me with a concerned look.  "We haven't located your books yet, but wait until tomorrow morning and check back.  By that time all the departments will have unloaded their boxes.  I'm sure we will find them."

Still undaunted and determined to have joy in the moment, I assured her I was okay with that and had faith they would turn up.  She showered me with thanks for not being overly upset with her.  I told her I would pray the books would be found; her countenance revealed this was a concept foreign to her.   That was Saturday and the signing wasn't to be until Thursday - plenty of time.

I made daily contact with her.  She continued to fail to proffer good news.  I guaranteed her I mailed the books, being careful to follow her supervisor's explicit instructions.  The coordinator showed more stress every time we talked, but the Lord had filled my heart with indescribable peace and joy.  I comforted her, assuring her things would work out.  I told her my plans were to go ahead with the planned book signing/reading.  "If the books aren't found, I will merely take orders and mail them to the attendees when I get home."

"You are taking this much better than I am," she said.  I saw my opportunity to let Jesus be shown in the way I handled this situation; I had a choice - I could give her grief over a situation she couldn't change or I could show Christ in my reaction to frustrating situation.  Wednesday night she called to say she found where someone signed for the books in Canaveral but she still didn't know if they made it on board.  By that time, she had become warmer and more personable.  "What is your book about?"  That was my opening to tell her the book mixed true humorous religious stories with short devotionals.  Her interest showed.

Fortunately, I had packed some promotional brochures and two copies of Laughing with the Lord.  Thursday came and still no cartons of books.  our friends helped us spread the word about the signing/ reading.  Christians aboard were hungry for something Godly.  Many showed up, listened and laughed, ordered books, and thanked me for offering a respite from some of the wild carrying-ons they had witnessed.

Now before I paint myself too Holy, let me say I had some unChristian thoughts about the cross-dressers and the throngs of homosexuals, some who were very in-your-face rude.  Then I heard that still small inaudible voice say, "Did you ever think you were on this very cruise so someone would pray for these people?"  I didn't want to, but I did.

I thought of what my mom often told me when I was a child - "Just do what's right, and everything else will work out."  In hindsight, God had more than one purpose for these frustrating happenings.  I hope he used me to live out that purpose.

(On Friday night, I got a call that the books had been found in a big linen container on shore, and Norwegian would mail them to me at home.  Don't you think God looked down and smiled; he knew where they were all the time, but he had other plans for me.)