I recently treated Pamela, on her birthday, to a river and canal cruise starting in Amsterdam. This was to be my first holiday of this type having shied away from water travel, but she had done a similar thing previously. She has a bucket list and wanted to see the famous painting by Johannes Vermeer of The Girl with a Pearl Earring. Thus, we climbed aboard the Marco Polo river ship, with three decks, for five days luxury and idleness. There were 26 Britons and the rest were French and Americans. Both those groups clung together in their respective countries; so did the Brits!
We usually sat at different tables for meals but with our own kind, and struck up a conversation with other guests, with gentle introductions, so as not to pry too much. To my interest, six of the couples we sat with were on their second marriage, notably a new wife, as the previous one had died of breast cancer. I did not sit with all the 12 couples but there could have been more. However, 50% minimum was a high figure. I also noticed that no man had chosen a second bride much younger than himself, which was sensible. The disparity of age in some cases of second marriage is enormous and silly. I have just read in The Times that Mel Gibson at 60 has a new flame of 25. He is almost old enough to be her grandfather!
The food was excellent, each meal unique and all drinks throughout the day were free, so we had non-alcoholic fruit juice cocktails. This tested their creativity to the limit but the staff and crew were courteous and kind, and nothing was too much trouble. How refreshing from the London and Midlands scene.
We were taken to the Keukenhof Gardens which means ‘Kitchen Garden.’ It is open to the public with a special event each year on the same weekend we were there, which was the best day for most people who had come to see the processional mobile flower floats. They reckoned that 90,000 would attend. Such was the crush that it was almost impossible, at times, to walk anywhere, but still worth going. It is the centre in Holland for world tulip distribution. It was breath-taking to see the waves and swathes of tulips of many different colours and types, bed after bed, almost beyond adequate description. In fact, words could not describe the beauty.
One female visitor tried to do a selfie with a phone camera so she crouched down and took it and fell backwards as she arose and flattened the bed of Tulips. I’m not sure what happened after that but suffice to say, her desire to be seen amongst the beauty of the tulips, may have highlighted her human deficiencies!
A day later we went to the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague, to view the favourite painting that Pamela wanted to see. Again, we found countless selfies being taken, with a person standing in front of a famous painting, no doubt to pass on to others their experience and privilege of being there. Perhaps narcissistic in attitude. It’s a diary saying to the world; this is my life – I’m here enjoying the event. There is a need in some people to share their experience or their worth to a wider media, self-worth no doubt crystallises it. There is clearly a lack or a desire for recognition in their lives beyond the current lifestyle.
Christians do not need this for the best advice I can give is to believe in yourself, love yourself and love God. His love is beyond measure – infinite magnificence indeed. We already have a selfie, with God looking over our shoulder; it’s found in the scriptures. We died with Him and we were raised with Him, and we are “in Christ” says the New Testament 164 times, that’s enough proof. Our photo is taken side by side with Jesus, our Saviour. One with him, no greater royalty on earth or in heaven; this is the height of privilege and partnership. The best selfie ever – Oh YES!
