Eddie Lowe
Just A Thought
As the band began their set and people found their seats, the voices around me grew louder as more gathered, talking with friends and strangers alike. With strangers who had become friends, our conversations stretched beyond the present and into shared life experiences.
What I am describing is my current setting on spring break aboard a cruise ship. My wife and I choose a cruise each year, making payments and plans for the months ahead. The title of this piece may seem unusual, but for me, vacation has always served as a kind of factory reset. It is a time to reflect on the past year and prepare for the one ahead.
A simple definition of a reset is removing the past in preparation for future use. While that idea is often used in a technical sense, it fits just as well into our daily lives. Many people choose the new year as a time for resolutions, but for me, vacation feels more natural.
Earlier, I mentioned the band, the crowd, and new friendships forming, even if only for a week. It is here that I share a personal belief. Nothing is by chance.
There are nearly three thousand people on this ship. Some are young, some are older, representing different backgrounds and nationalities. Among them, a husband and wife happened to take the seats beside mine. Our conversation began lightly, covering where we were from, what we enjoyed, and what had brought us here.
Then the subject of occupation came up.
Both of my new friends worked in government positions and had done well. They were kind and easy to talk with. When it came my turn, I shared what I do. I am a Baptist pastor.
Often, when I say that, the conversation shifts. People begin talking about faith, past promises, church experiences, or spiritual questions. I never force that direction. It simply happens.
But this time was different.
Within minutes, the conversation turned to something far heavier.
Cancer.
In the middle of music, laughter, and applause, my new friend began to speak. As she did, tears filled her eyes and a deep fear surfaced. She had faced cancer before, and now it had returned.
With it came the harsh realities that so many know. Her hair was gone, and with it, pieces of her confidence. The weight of uncertainty and the fragility of life pressed heavily on her spirit. More tests awaited them when they returned home. This trip, they shared, was meant to be a final break before difficult answers and challenging treatments.
A factory reset.
A reminder to take time to take time.
Out of thousands of people, they sat beside me. Not by chance or luck, and not because of anything I had done, but because I believe God placed them there.
They are now my friends. My prayer concern. People I will continue to check on, even from a distance.
Through them, I have come to see even more clearly the meaning of a true reset. It is not about erasing the past. It is about embracing the moment you have been given.
It is the quiet decision to say, I have this moment. And when the sun rises tomorrow, I will be ready to face it, trusting the One who makes tomorrow possible.
