Lessons from Las Vegas

Dear Friends,

It’s still January, and talking about the new year feels like old news.  So iI won’t)

How about recalibrating crazy in a crazy world.

I thought I knew what “crazy” was… until we went to Las Vegas for the International Roofing Expo. Rick is back in his game—re-establishing contacts and finding new ways to serve in the industry—so bit the bullet and the Clampetts made it to Vegas.

Everything in Vegas is larger than life: the mega hotels, casino gambling terminals that go on for miles, the food, the shows—every attempt to saturate the senses is turned up to the nth degree. But stay with me because we had gone expecting divine appointments and protection.

Tucked inside the cra-cra were a couple of reminders from seemingly simple things.

Lesson #1: Don’t listen to all the negative reports.
We were navigating transport to the convention center without three days of Uber rides blowing the budget. We’d heard about the Monorail, but the reviews were all over the place.

“Oooh, poor signage.”
“Oooh, the seats are fabric.”
“Oooh, it stops too long.”
“Oooh, it’s too far to walk.”
“Oooh, it’s GREAT.”

Waiting in the Starbucks lineup, IRE nametags on, we struck a conversation with a guy from Australia who was taking the Monorail to the show. It was cheap and easy: Tickets and barcodes were accessible online, and surprise, surprise: We had a great experience.

It reminded me of the Israelites hearing reports about the Promised Land: Oooh, there are giants. Oooh, we’ll never defeat them because they’re stronger than us.. But Joshua and Caleb brought a different report – verdancy, giant grape clusters and a confidence that the Lord is with us. The giants weren’t a deterrent—they were a challenge. *

Sometimes we have to s stop listening to all the negative reports to see beyond the giants.
“Be strong and of good courage” isn’t just for one season—it’s for always.

Lesson #2: The familiar isn’t always the best choice.
We stuck with our Starbucks overpriced coffee. At least I knew what I was getting. Other coffee just might be disappointing and cost just as much. Do you hear the buzzer?  Judgement based on no intel.

On the last day Rick got up early and spied out the Roasted Bean kiosk in our hotel. Half the price—and we liked the coffee even better. Now we know.

The same thing happened with food. We found Broadway Burger in New York, New York, liked it, and went back on Day 2. But on Day 3 after the show, I was cranky hangry (that’s why Rick calls me the Cranky Yankee ) so wanted to eat asap with what we knew. Rick, however, found a happy hour special at Nine Irish Guys. Great burgers. Great atmosphere. Half the cost.

That’s what I appreciate about Rick -he’s willing to try the unfamiliar: he found something better by being open.

So here’s my wish for you this year:
Don’t be reckless—but don’t cling so tightly to the familiar that you miss what God has waiting for you in the unfamiliar. Sometimes the better thing is just one small step beyond what we already know.

With love,
xoxo
Nancy

PS: *Read the story in Numbers 13. loved this verse: But Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” Numbers 13:30