It's going to be alright, Harmony.

LESSONS FROM OUR GNARLY EXPERIENCE IN AMSTERDAM

"There is beauty in the gnarly, twisted forms...." -- Vincent van Gogh

Van Gogh was referring to the gnarly, hideous trees in his homeland. But as ugly as they were in the eyes of many, Van Gogh saw beauty in them worth painting, worth spending hours and days and weeks admiring, studying and painting.

This was a perfect reminder for us as we closed our second day in Amsterdam in April. You see, the day before we went to Van Gogh museum, as we arrived in Amsterdam from Belgium and were checking in our hotel, we came to realization that our passports were missing.

After some silent panicking (ha! ironic statement), the hotel kindly allowed us to check in with our California driver license. As we settled in our room, we turned our suitcases upside down and inside out. We spent an hour calling restaurants, hotel, shops and tour agencies where we've been, praying all the while for God to reveal where the passports were. None. To our dismay, the passports were nowhere in our luggage or purse or backpack or any of the places we've been. We don't know how, we don't when, we don't know where we lost them. They were just gone! Our hearts sank in horror as we imagined not being able to go back home.

After collecting our thoughts and gathering our strength, we headed back to the airport to file a police report. While at the police station, the whole time we were there for two hours, Harmony fell asleep, so peacefully, with no care in the world. She knew our passports were missing. She knew that wasn't a good thing. But she also knew that she can count on us to take care of her. So she slept ever so peacefully on her dad's lap.

I felt God's tug in my heart as I watched her sleep. He reminded me that I should trust Him too in vast confidence that He is able; that He's got this already; that I need not worry anymore. It was then that His peace that passes all understanding came gushing all over me like a waterfall and washed me of any doubts. Everything was going to be alright.

We spent a day and a half filing a police report, gathering necessary forms, documents and information, getting our passport photos and falling in line at the US Consulate in Amsterdam to obtain emergency passports. Thankfully, I adhered to my mom's advice to make photocopies of our passports and gave them to someone I can trust so they can rescue us at times like these. And it was the case! Thanks Mom and thanks to my lovely friends who went out of their way, back and forth their house and mine to help us acquire the necessary information! smile emoticon

On our second day in Amsterdam, we finally obtained our emergency passports. And what do you know? The US Consulate was located at the exact plaza where we were supposed to be that day according to our itinerary. Though our day and half were taken away from us, we weren't going down without a fight! We were determined to have fun even more!

So we spent the remainder of our afternoon at the Van Gogh museum, and walked around Amsterdam in the evening; went to see the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens the next day and took a canal trip around Amsterdam; visited Rotterdam, Delft and The Hague on Friday, and finished our trip at the amazing Rijksmuseum where more paintings and marvelous pieces of arts are on display! We still enjoyed the rest of our time there!

It was such a gnarly, hideous incident that could just have ruined our trip and no one would have blamed us. But just as Van Gogh saw beauty worth painting, God allowed us to see the beauty in our situation. Losing our passports made us even more intentional in our attitude of gratitude and made us realize our joy can't be snuffed out just like that because the source of our hope is God himself Who holds the universe in His very capable hands. It opened our eyes to see beauty in everything and in every circumstance.

Thank God He sees beauty in gnarly people like me and cared to remind me that He is in control.

And because of that, I have no reason to be in sulks and act gnarly. Instead, I have all the reason to look glorious just as He sees me and paints me to be!