Tracy Wilde-Pace - Contentment: The Sacred Path to Loving the Life You Have

The Sacred Path to Loving the Life You Have

Contentment

Tracy Wilde-Pace

Finding the Lost Art of Empathy:

Connecting Human to Human in a Disconnected World

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Copyright 2021 by Tracy Wilde

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Atria Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Howard Books/Atria Books hardcover edition June 2021

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Interior design by Timothy Shaner, NightandDayDesign.biz

Jacket design by Min Choi

Jacket image by Adobestock

Author photography by Kelsie Stevens

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Wilde, Tracy, author.

Title: Contentment : the sacred path to loving the life you have / Tracy Wilde-Pace.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020049529 (print) | LCCN 2020049530 (ebook) | ISBN 9781501156311 | ISBN 9781501156328 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: ContentmentReligious aspectsChristianity.

Classification: LCC BV4647.C7 W54 2021 (print) | LCC BV4647.C7 (ebook) | DDC 248.4dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020049529

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020049530

ISBN 978-1-5011-5631-1

ISBN 978-1-5011-5632-8 (ebook)

constitutes a continuation of the copyright page.

This book is dedicated to my husband, Garrison. Ive heard it said the best things in life are worth waiting for and you were well worth the wait! Im so honored to be your wife.

T o me, theres nothing more frustrating than wanting to be home after a long trip overseas. A few years ago, I was returning home from Kenya to Idaho after teaching at the beautiful Kenya College of Ministry, which trains local pastors in practical ministry to help them build healthy, thriving churches. Every trip is unbelievably rewarding and so enjoyable! Youve got to love that Kenyan tea! But after a few weeks of teaching all day, fighting mosquitoes, and trying to tame my wild, frizzy naturally curly hair, I was ready to head home.

This particular year I brought the greatest travel buddy ever with me, Vierra. Vierra is the quintessential international traveler. This girl is a legend and such an adventurer. Shes traveled all over the world, so you dont have to worry about her handling the terrain of rocky roads or the unique local delicacies offered. Not to mention, she knows how to make you laugh.

But after a great few weeks with our lovely Kenyan pastors, both Vierra and I couldnt wait to get home. You know youre ready to go home when you leave for the airport way before you need to. I think we arrived a solid five hours before our flight was scheduled to depart, but we didnt mind one bit. We made our way to the airport lounge and settled in with free Wi-Fi and snacks. After a few hours of lounging, catching up on emails, and all things social media, we decided we should head for our gate since they would be boarding soon. Once we had arrived at the gate, we heard the news no traveler ever wants to hear: Your flight has been delayed. Ugh. The worst. We felt like we had already been waiting for days. But, oh well. What are you going to do about it? So we settled in to the boarding area, and after another couple of hours waiting there, we finally heard the best news ever, which was Well be starting our boarding now. Praise the Lord! Were on our way now! Home is calling! It wont be long now.

Vierra and I comfortably nestle into our seats (as comfortably as you can in economy for a ten-hour flight) for the first leg of our journey home. Following a significant time for boarding and getting everyone seated, the pilot came on and said that air traffic control had delayed us. The pilot went on to say he wasnt sure how long the delay would be, but that he would get back to us as soon as he heard anything. Two hours later, we finally took off from Kenya, heading to Amsterdam. En route the flight attendants kept assuring the passengers that we wouldnt miss our connections and not to worry.

But worry is what I do best. So you bet I was worrying. Plus, I did the math in my head, and there was no way we were going to make our connection to the States with the already short layover that we had scheduled.

Sure enough, upon our arrival to Amsterdam, Vierra and I ran, tired, haggard-looking, through all the checkpoints to get to our gate, only to be told what we had already suspected: You missed your flight.

We all have two options in these moments. One option is to freak out at the gate agent, who probably has about as much control over the delay and you missing your flight as you do over a two-year-olds temperament. So freaking out at the poor airline representative never seems like a great option. Or option two, to calmly accept the alternative plan the airline representative offers you and try to not let it ruin your life.

So Vierra and I chose the latter option and walked away, feeling a little dejected at the thought of being so close to, yet so far away from, home. We were smack-dab in the middle of two places. We werent in Kenya anymore, but we still werent home. Nevertheless, we chose to enjoy some extra time shopping at the airport and getting some coffee that, the closer we got to home, tasted more and more like American coffee.

By the time we arrived at our new gate and flight, we realized we had been going pretty long on this journey without a shower, brushed teeth, combed hair, or fresh clothes. We felt gross, and we looked gross! But remember, I told you, Vierra makes me laugh. So with all the inconveniences of the day, Vierra and I kept finding things to laugh about.

Just as we were getting ready to board the second leg of the trip, we heard, Miss Wilde and Miss Reid, will you please see a gate agent?

Vierra and I quickly jumped up from our seats and hurried to the first available gate agent, who told us we had been upgraded to business class due to the inconvenience of our previous flight and delay. Tears of joy welled up in my eyes, and I kept thanking the agent over and over. It was like the dam of our hearts broke open, and we began to share every little detail of our horrible journey with this kind person. At one point, I mentioned to her how awful it had been because look at how haggard we looked, to which the gate agent responded, Yeah, like your hair, as she pointed at my hair with a look of both pity and compassion. Vierra and I roared in laughter. No one else would have been that bold to address my frizzy mane, which had increased in volume and frizz.