Changing Speeds In Santa Cruz

My journey to Bolivia begins with a routine flight to Miami, a six hour wait, then a normal but long overnight flight to La Paz. Upon landing the security crew boards the plane and checks each seat with precision before we proceed to Santa Cruz. Then I experience my first Bolivian left turn: the flight to Cochabamba has been rescheduled. The six hour wait has quickly turned into twelve. Not fun. 

After some consideration I decide to take a taxi into Santa Cruz and make the best of my delay by enjoying the sites of the ‘plaza mayor’ in the city centre. I end up visiting the old cathedral off the plaza—which I might add boasts a fabulous wooden decorated ceiling; watching part of the Portugal/Ivory Coast football match over a fine cup of coffee; meandering the veranda covered stores surrounding the plaza; and having lunch at the Irish bar overlooking the palm tree covered square (the Irish are present everywhere!).

Sudden left turns. No warning. What do we do with them? How do we receive the changing day? With frustration? Anger? Depression? Or do we make the left turn and see where it takes us…maybe to a new place, a new experience otherwise missed? A change of plan can often be redeemed—’redeeming the time’—a biblical principle often ignored in our proactive, day timer laden society.

The surprising moment, a sudden left turn—a ’gift’ if we have the eyes to see?