Last year, after I attended a conference, the tickets for this year went on sale at the early bird rate. I purchased the ticket. Who doesn’t want a discount for a conference I’ll be attending?
As the months progressed, I realized that my heart was no longer sure if I wanted to attend, but, I already had a ticket, so that meant I needed to secure a hotel and flights.
I secured the hotel from the block that the conference had pre arranged and later booked my flights using points on an airline.
As the date drew closer, I was not getting any more excited and as my original plans had changed as to who would care for my daughter, I was even less excited.
Someone posted in our Facebook group asking if anyone had a ticket to sell. I took a screenshot and shared with a colleague who had a ticket but had not confirmed she would attend.
She responded that even if she didn’t attend in person, she would definitely attend online and needed her ticket.
That’s when the lightbulb went off in my head. I could actually attend online, but then remembered that I had purchased a non refundable airline ticket. Figured, I should check anyway. When I went to the app, it said I was allowed to cancel and get back either all or most of my points. Wait.. what?
I checked the hotel. Their terms were pretty flexible and I was still well within the range of when I could cancel.
That’s when everything came together in a matter of moments. I canceled my flight and hotel, and waited for the person to purchase my ticket for the conference. They got a great deal compared to current prices.
Instead of feeling a sense of sadness at not attending in person this year, I felt a sense of peace and wanted to dance. (Don’t tell anyone. I might have done a full praise dance in my office). Instead of sadness, I felt relief, so I knew it was the right decision.
Friends, sometimes we have to look at the full picture and make the best decision based on the new information we have. Being able to attend online is exactly what I needed, for this season. And.. this pivot was necessary.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that you can do things we might even not have thought possible. Thank you for turning this situation in such a way that leaves me in awe. I’m so grateful at how you are able to work things out, for ours and your good.