I checked into my hotel with a group of travelers who were all tired and delayed due to fog. The front desk staff told us we had two choices “a newly renovated room that will smell of glue and will likely give you a headache – or an older room”. I opted for the older room. She added, “Oh, and…when you wake up and look out of your
window, the construction next door will make you think you were looking at a war zone!”
The next morning as I pulled the curtains back, it did indeed look like a war zone. The building had been demolished and there was rock and debris everywhere. It was so ugly that it was unsettling. I stood there looking
out that window reflecting on what it would be like to wake up in a country where this was your view. It made me tear up.
There was a lot of complaining at the convention — the delays, the rooms and the awful weather. Luckily, I was blessed to be the opening speaker… I reminded this group that even though we had all
experienced 10%s, we needed to see the 90%s. I asked if anyone had looked out of their window that morning. Most nodded that they had. I asked them what it would be like to look out a window every day in a country where that was their view. Millions wish for the lives we have in Canada. People die trying to come and live here.
There are so many 90%s — a bed to sleep in, a roof over our head and non-stop convention food. I reminded them that although we had many 10%s, they were not what my daughter calls “first world problems”. We need to be so grateful for all of those who fought for us to have this incredible life in Canada.
