Thought of the Day 04.27.10

The recent volcanic eruption cost Europe’s air travel industry about two billion dollars, and there is now a raging debate over who, exactly, should shoulder the financial responsibility for this unforeseen natural calamity. Some say each government, some say the airlines, and some say individual travelers.

What’s interesting for me to imagine, however, is what I might do as an individual stranded and forced to stay several extra days away from home. Of course I might prefer someone else to pay for that inconvenience, but how much of a fight would I put up to get that result? Not much, quite frankly. Here’s why.

Many times in the life of a Christian we have the chance to scratch and claw for our financial rights, but we don’t. We already have and cannot lose the One Thing we truly need, and His example was one of generosity and self-sacrifice. So we learn to, “Oh, well,” to many disappointments in this life. Our faith is in Christ, not in demanding our perceived rights from others, and we know it would profit us nothing to gain the whole settlement but become a twisted, angry person in the process.