BACK TO THE POOL……

Sherelene and I did a little exploring this morning around the island, we heard about a beach on the north side that is beautiful. So we went to check it out, it was o.k. but was very crowded. The drive however was a real eye opener. The U.S. Virgin Islands are not a third world area, but the poverty is still pretty staggering. I never travel outside the U.S. that I’m not reminded of just how incredible we have it back home. I live in an area, (Appalachia), that most of the country thinks of as the poverty belt of the lower 48 states. It probably is, but our poverty is living high compared to most of the world. Poverty in the Caribbean is a lot different than poverty in America. Poverty in much of the third world is ten times worse. My point is that we have it pretty great in America.

I went to a “Super Market” to pick up some stuff we needed in Red Hook, while it was a pretty good store, and one of the very best on this end of the island, my local Krogers is like dying and going to heaven, compared. I remember going in a grocery, general, store in Kenya and couldn’t believe how little they had. Look, I’m on vacation and certainly not out to save the world, but I can’t help but be reminded that I’m unbelievably fortunate to live where I live in this world. So the next time you feel like complaining about how little there is to do, or buy where you live, try visiting just about any place else in the world and see how you feel, then.

And now a few random oddities from my trip out this morning, Sherelene is not one of the oddities!

One of my keys to living well, is thankfulness. I think that one of the real traps in life is feeling that we are not getting what we deserve. I once complained to my friend Dr. Charles Stanley about something I thought was unfair. I felt I deserved more in a particular area. His advice was pray this prayer, “God, give me what I deserve.” That was the last time I thought that way. I know what I deserve, and I’m happy to be getting a lot better than that………

the pilgrim

*Photo notes: All images Nikon D7000 with the 16-85 AFS VR lens.