Almost two years ago I sat in the doctor’s office and I was given a little handout called “Welcome to Holland”. I just heard a life-altering news for my loved one, and in the thick of it, I was handed this printed passage written in 1987 that talks about how many of us go through life planning to go to Italy.
We make an itinerary, plan all the things, and ask advice from friends who have been there. We get all excited leading up to that day, and as the plane lands, many will happily arrive in Italy. However, for some of us, the pilot has stated that we’ve arrived at Holland.
Of course, for those who arrive at Holland, we feel confused, or even distraught. We’ve planned for Italy, but now we have no choice but to stay in this country we know nothing about. But then, we realize that Holland has its own beauty. It has its windmills, tulips, hills, and lakes. We would have never seen these other places, met these other people, or experienced other beautiful things if we weren’t taken to Holland.
Back then, this passage spoke to me at the doctor’s office, but I realized the breadth and power of this message to anyone who’s experiencing a life or a situation that has strayed from what they’re expecting.
You may have planned all your life to go to Italy, but you’re in Holland now. You can cry, panic, or bargain, but the bottom line is, you’re already here. You have a choice. You can choose to be upset all your life, or take your time to slowly see the beauty and joy that is unfolding before you in Holland.