The Cashless Conundrum

Before we left for London and our grand adventure through the United Kingdom, we spent time deciding the important things to see and do.

Of course the museums to visit and what landmarks to see -- but even more so -- we were trying to figure out how to pay for everything!

Cash or credit card?

As it turns out, in the United Kingdom, credit cards reign supreme. Tapping a card or phone is often faster than finding our reading glasses, locating the correct bill, and trying to remember which pocket we put it in.

So we embraced modern technology and headed off to conquer London.

Then someone told us, "The fastest way around the city is the Tube."

The Tube? It sounded harmless enough.

The London Underground has been transporting passengers since 1863 and is the world's oldest underground railway. Millions of people use it every year. We quickly discovered they all seem to be in a hurry!

People zipped around us like they were training for the Olympics. Escalators moved. Trains (the Tube) arrived. Crowds flowed.

Meanwhile, Carl and I were trying to determine which direction to go, where to tap our credit card, where to retrieve the ticket, and whether we had accidentally boarded a train headed for Scotland.

Miraculously, we survived!

Better yet, after navigating the Tube several times, we realized we still had a few functioning brain cells left. In fact, we felt rather accomplished.

The experience got me thinking about today's cashless culture. More and more businesses prefer digital payments. Some don't accept cash at all.

While I still appreciate the wisdom of saving pennies, I've learned a little flexibility goes a long way.

Most of life's frustrations aren't worth losing our joy over.

So whether we're paying with cash, a credit card, our phone, or whatever comes next, let's remember this -- money is simply a tool. What matters most is how we use it and the attitude we carry along the way.

And if life suddenly moves faster than we're comfortable with -- we don't panic.
We take a deep breath.
We smile.
We ask for directions -- a lot.
We trust God.
And we keep moving forward.

God's got us -- summer, spring, winter or fall.
AND, when it all gets too complicated, too hurried, too worried -- we call on our ALL KNOWING, ALL LOVING Father God Who is there to direct us, guide us and helps us find those green pastures where all is sweet peace and comfort and joy!

After all, if Carl and I can successfully navigate the London Tube and all the means of transportation we took in our grand adventure -- I assure you -- there may be hope for all of us!

The London Tube taught us more than transportation -- it taught us flexibility, patience, and a lot of humility! Sometimes life moves fast, but with a smile, a credit card, and God's help, we can navigate the journey just fine.

#TravelLessons #londontube #FaithAndFlexibility