the other me

I have a confession to make: sometimes I wish I had another life. Sometimes I look back over my life and say, “What if…”

For instance, I think, “What if I had gone into theater instead of missions?” Or, “What if I had stayed in the States instead of living overseas?”

Can you relate to this kind of “what if…” thinking? Please say “yes” because I don’t want to be the only one that thinks this way from time to time.

Well, I do know there’s at least one other person in the world that thinks this way. It’s me—the other me, I mean. See: there’s a Troy Cady living in Nebraska who has been getting emails occasionally that were meant for me.

My friend Bruce emailed the other me the other day to let me know he’d be in town. Bruce wanted to arrange a lunch date with me, but he accidentally emailed the Nebraska-Troy-Cady instead of me. It was easy for Bruce to do this because my email address is only one letter away from the Nebraska Troy’s email address.

Because this mix-up happens to him a lot, the Nebraska Troy emailed Bruce to clear up the confusion. Here’s what he said:

From: Troy
To: Bruce
Cc:
Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2011 07:41:04 -0600
Subject: Re:...meet you for church and then unch afterwards?

Hey Bruce,
I get these emails from time to time. I feel bad because somehow my email must be very similar to another troy cady.

I am a photographer and videographer in Nebraska and sadly I am not in Madrid. This Troy you know sounds like he has an amazing life and job!! I get emails from others stating all kinds of amazing things!! He really has an exciting life! I just feel this happens so often that maybe its god throwing me hints about something.

So I am going to keep a sharper eye out…

Thanks man
Troy cady not the one in Madrid

Getting an email like that yesterday made me realize: “I really do have a blessed life, don’t I?” I said to myself, “Why are you always wishing for something different, then? Why not be thankful for where you are now and all the great things you’ve seen God do?”

Today, I choose gratitude. Today, I choose contentment.

Thank you, God, for granting me this wonderful life. It hasn’t always been easy nor what I’ve always wanted, nor what I’ve expected but I can be thankful and trust that Your plans are better than my plans all the time. So, thank you, Lord for putting me right where I am today.

And, if you’re reading this Nebraska Troy: you may not have realized it but your words made me smile; and I do hope you see how very much God loves you and has blessed your life, too!