Some may think this post is about the “do’s” and “don’ts” of traveling in Mexico but not really. I will have to admit with all the talk about crime and kidnapping in that country, I was concerned. I knew that being constantly worried would ruin our trip. But God in His mercy taught me an unforgettable vacation lesson from Cancun.
Yes, the Cancun beaches looked like sugar and the water is the amazing color of turquoise. We repelled in a Cenotes and saw ancient Mayan ruins, snorkeled coral reefs and shopped in Cozumel. All of our excursions were adventurous and lovely. The two biggest events that battled my worries were the resident hotel peacock and a woman named Minnie.
Upon arrival, we meet the male peacock. Of course it was a beautiful bird especially when it fanned its feathers. The most entertaining event was watching children try to scare the bird which was not a good idea. It was quite entertaining watching children scream and run the other way. The bird won every time. We even saw an adult man turn into a “fraidee-cat” and take-off running and yelling. The message was clear; don’t mess with the bird or don’t invite trouble.
Waiting to depart from the Cancun airport to Atlanta, we met Minnie. This attractive brunet wandered up to me and randomly asked questions that made no sense. She had a bandage over her left eye and looked very confused. I asked her what happened. Minnie told me that her daughter had a destination wedding the day before. In the middle of the night Minnie slipped and hit her head on the bathtub. She had to go to the ER the night before and receive some stitches both inside and outside of her injury. Minnie did not want her daughter to know what happened for fear it would ruin the wedding weekend.
There I stood with this lovely woman who obviously was dealing with more than 15 stitches. As I listened to her talk with clarity in one sentence and confusion in the next sentence, I assumed she also suffered a concussion. To make matters worse, the Mexican pharmacy in the airport was closed so there was no way to fill the prescriptions given to her at the hospital. I assured Minnie that she was safe with us and we would help her get home. That is exactly what we did. When we arrived in Atlanta, Minnie’s other daughter met us at the international baggage claim.
I believe that random encounter was divine intervention. The Cancun airport was packed with travelers and Minnie just happened to approach me -one of the passengers traveling on her flight to Atlanta.
When Caroline and I are asked about our trip, we remember many of the beautiful sites and sounds of Cancun. But the memory of the hotel peacock and helping a stranger in need made an indelible impression about worry. It reminds me of Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
God’s love, care and protection covered the hotel peacock, my new friend, Minnie, and my worried mind. By the way, the folks we met from Cancun were amazing.
