PEOPLE – not the magazine, but the real deal

“Be our guest” night at Disney’s Luminaire’s Dinning Room – David, Grace, Haley, Naomi, Rebekah, Craig, (David), Derek, Andrew, Drew, Hudson, Hannah

There’s only room for so many cruise stories and so many pictures of big boats, so I think today’s post will have to be a wrap on this Disney series. I’ll make this one about people, and people were the exact reason we steamed out of Port Canaveral in the first place.

The Disney Magic Cruise was the official “60th Anniversary Celebration” for my parents, Grace and David Maul. The actual date is May 24, and we’re going to celebrate with a small family dinner at our home. I plan to write more about the providence that guided two young Londoners from the 1948 meeting where David first heard Grace lift her voice in prayer (sight unseen) to today’s extended family based here in Florida. But in this post I’m simply going to share “formal night” from the cruise.

Andrew Maul and Naomi Campbell

DRESS UP: Personally, I’m not a big one for dressing up. But it is fun when we all do it together for a special occasion.

The setting was “Luminaires Restaurant,” themed from the dining scene in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and if there’s one thing Mickey Mouse and friends do well then it’s play dress-up and put on a show. It was all “be our guest” all evening long and we had a lot of fun.

Our children, Andrew and Naomi, have always made us smile. But what a treat to enjoy this time of our lives together! They’re both so genuinely happy, and fulfilled, and overflowing with authentic life. Andrew and Naomi make this world a better place by virtue of how they live their lives, and there’s little that could make us more satisfied as parents.

Naomi, David, and Craig Campbell

GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN: For my mum and dad, on their 60th, great-grandchildren are just icing on the cake. They have three. There’s our David Henry, of course, but then my niece Hannah and her husband Drew have Haley and Hudson.

My brother Geoff, bless his heart, hit the jackpot with his grandchildren and – as you can tell just by looking – there’s a great deal of his spirit in both of them. Haley is a bona-fide princess, and Hudson is completely at ease mixing his formal tuxedo with large amounts of messy chocolate.

Drew, Hudson, Haley and Hannah Roberts

Hannah and Drew live in Palmetto. She is a social worker and he is finishing specialized training as a medical technician.

My brother poured himself into Haley and Hudson over the final years of his life, and while his passing left a profound vacuum, his lovingly applied presence also left a legacy that is tangible and permanent.

That same evening I convened a family gathering at a quieter location in the ship. I asked everyone to share a favorite memory of Geoff so that he would be  a deliberate part of our conversation as we celebrated together. Haley honed in on a unique aspect of her grandfather’s personality when she said, “Pop-pop always told me we should have a ‘Plan-B’… and ‘Plan-C’… and ‘Plan-D’….”

David and Grace – still smooching after 60 years. Good for them!

MISSING PICTURE: It looks like no-one snapped a photo of Rebekah and me that evening other than the group shot above.

But I did make sure and catch this one (left) of the celebrated Diamond Anniversary Couple. We’ll make them do it again on May 24th, you can be sure.

But I can’t think of a better reason to get on a big boat, dress up, and celebrate together. Sixty years of committed, faithful love. Not 60-years of easy love; not we-never-had-to-try love; not life-is-a-bed-of-roses love. But faithful, committed love.

It’s the best love there is. - DEREK

Disney and faith; fantasy versus reality; false and true

The Disney Magic on a soggy afternoon

The funniest moment on the cruise had to have been when the Disney Magic tied up on Castaway Cay. The day was overcast and rainy. Perfect photography weather (as you can see by the vibrant colors) but not exactly primo recreation conditions. Rebekah and I got off the ship and hiked in for lunch, just so we could have a look around and enjoy some barbecue. We didn’t stay long, however, because we were drenched and chilled.

So we took the trolley back. Then, just before reaching the ship, the driver clicked the intercom. “Thank you for visiting our island paradise,” the voice said. “It’s easy to misjudge the sun out here, so stop by the health clinic if you’ve burned too much. If the top of your feet are sore, just soak them in some cold water before dinner….”

We laughed out loud. At first I thought the guy was being funny by design, but then I realized it was a pre-recorded track, activated automatically at a certain point. And I remembered how scripted Disney is, and how reality seldom if ever follows any predictable pattern.

The bottom line with Disney is – when fantasy and the real world don’t agree – stick with the script regardless.

Rainy with a 80% chance of reality

FAITH AND FANTASY: It made me think about one of the fundamental problems with the way some people engage a life of faith, as well as the way some preachers sell the product.

There seems to be this constant conflict between what the script(ure) says: “Rejoice in the Lord, Always,” (Philippians 4;4) “I came that they may have life, and have it to the full,” (John 10:10) “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself,” (Matthew 6:34) and the reality that is day-to-day life: depression, boredom, anxiety, conflict….

I’ve heard preachers say (and I’ve heard this from countless Christians and read it on-line in a dozen formats) that the important thing is to stick to the script, to believe in spite of the facts, to “name-it-and-claim-it” regardless of the evidence, because:

• if you’re not healed it’s because of your lack of faith;
• if you’re still in debt is a failure of belief;
• if you’re not happy all the time it’s because God isn’t blessing you;
• And if God isn’t blessing you it’s because we’re not holy enough, good enough, righteous enough, spirit-filled enough or whatever enough…..

Stormy weather at the Bahamas, too

I JUST DONT BUY THIS: My personal walk with God – and it’s a relationship that is growing day-by-day as I spend more deliberate time in God’s presence, study the scriptures more completely, worship in a faithful community, and “do life” together with small groups of fellow pilgrims – is teaching me that the LAST THING God wants from me is a “keep to the script” facade where A) I pretend that life isn’t anything like it really is, and B) God pretends that I am a spot-on perfect disciple who doesn’t really need Jesus.

No, the whole point of Jesus as companion and guide is that God meets me where I am, that neither one of us pretends anything, and that – sometimes – the sun doesn’t come out for days.

With my Grandson, David, in Key West. Another relationship that will only grow in the realm of reality…

OKay, I’ve exceeded the 500 word mark. So that’s enough for today. Words to ponder, I trust. So what are we going to do with this honest relationship God is forging, through Jesus…. and where will it take us from here?

- DEREK

You, Lord, are my shepherd.
I will never be in need.
     You let me rest in fields
of green grass.
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water,
     and you refresh my life.

You are true to your name,
and you lead me
along the right paths.
 I may walk through valleys
as dark as death,
but I won’t be afraid.
You are with me,
and your shepherd’s rod
makes me feel safe.

 You treat me to a feast,
while my enemies watch.
You honor me as your guest,
and you fill my cup
until it overflows.
 Your kindness and love
will always be with me
each day of my life,
and I will live forever
in your house, Lord. (Psalm 23)

Home from Disney Magic Cruise

The Disney Magic at Castaway Cay

This morning we floated back into Port Canaveral and started the re-entry process into regular life. We enjoyed a spectacular experience on board the Disney Magic, but it is most certainly time to ease back into the routine of writing, making our own beds, cooking our own food and eating at the kitchen counter.

I’ve started with this photograph from “Castaway Cay” yesterday afternoon, just to give some sense of the scale of the vessel we floated around on for five days. I have amazing photographs aplenty, so I’ll use today’s post to simply offer a taste of how it was like to sail as a family.

Dinner around the table together was always a treat (David is there. you just can't see him!)

EFFICIENCY: Wednesday our party of 12 made it on-board and into our first buffet line before 1:00. If there’s anything Disney know how to do well then it’s move masses of people without the chaos that often goes along with crowds.

Then it was an afternoon of exploring, getting our bearings, and settling into our surprisingly spacious cabins, and enjoying our  ”sit-down and be served” evening meal. My brother Geoff was the lead planner for this family voyage and – even though we were all terribly sad he wasn’t able to live long enough to make the trip – Geoff’s stamp was in the details and we toasted his memory at our first dinner.

Walking photography tour of Key West

SCHEDULE: Thursday we explored Key West, Friday was our day “At Sea,” Saturday we tied up at Nassau in the rain, and Sunday we did the same at the Disney island, Castaway Cay.

Over the next few days I’ll be telling some great stories from the cruise, along with including several spectacular photographs each day.

I’m looking forward to sharing - DEREK