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There once was a man whose life long dream
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was to board a cruise ship
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and sail the Mediterranean Sea.
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He saved every penny until he had enough for his passage.
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He dreamed of walking the streets of Rome,
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Athens, and Istanbul.
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Since money was tight
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he brought an extra suitcase filled with cans of beans, boxes of crackers,
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and bags of powdered lemonade, and that is what he lived on every day.
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He would have loved to take part in the many activities offered on the ship;
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he envied those who went to movies, shows,
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and cultural presentations,
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and oh, how he yearned for only a taste of the amazing
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food he saw on the ship.
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But the man wanted to spend
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so very little money
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that he didn't participate in any of these.
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He was able to see the cities he had longed to visit, but
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for the most part of the journey,
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he stayed in his cabin and ate only
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his humble food.
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On the last day of the cruise, a crew member asked him
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which of the farewell parties he would be attending.
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It was then
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that the man learned,
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that not only the farewell party,
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but almost everything on board the cruise ship, the food and entertainment,
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all the activities, had been included
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in the price of the ticket.
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Too late, the man realized
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that he had been living far
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beneath his privileges.
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We live beneath our privileges when we fail to partake
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of the feast of happiness, peace, and joy that God grants so bountifully.
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We can be satisfied with a diminished experience and settle for experiences
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far below our privileges,
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or we can partake
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of an abundant feast
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of spiritual opportunity and universal blessings.
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As you read the scriptures and listen to the words of the prophets
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with all your heart and mind
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the Lord will tell you how to live up to your privileges
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and we will be able
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to do all things
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through Christ who strengthens us.
