New Phone, Who Dis?

Rachel Jewett

Oct 4, 2021

4 min read

So it is true what they say, you haven't truly been to Paris until you are the victim of a pick pocket. That is right, my phone was stolen right off my body. I am physically fine, just mentally and emotionally stunned and confused. I am so grateful for the friends and family I have who are supporting me through the distress. Lets see - what is God trying to teach me through this? Not to be attached to my phone all the time? That even annoying and awful things can happen to prepared people?

"Come on come on don’t you be afraid, whatever comes tomorrow my love is here to stay."

After buying a new phone and having no internet connection in my space until my new sim card arrives, I watched "Catching Fire" because of course I have 2,3,4 downloaded on my computer, and then decided to sing. And what song popped up but "Beautiful Sky" by Francesca Battistelli. I haven't sung this one in awhile, but it felt right and I almost cried while singing it.

"Don't you know that I know life can be so hard it makes you wanna give up....But don't you know over the horizon the sunny day you're looking for is waiting right there in my love"

Like how freaking beautiful is that.

I have been praying all day today asking for patients and peace and even some understanding of why I have to go through this. And maybe that right there is it. I took time to pray today. I took time to breathe. Forcibly unplug. Life can be hard. So hard it makes you want to give up. I have been there, in life in general and in the last month in Paris, but guess what the sunny day we are waiting for, its right there. Its right there in the love of the stranger who asked if I was okay crouched over in the subway, its right there in the love of the sweet au pair friend I have maybe hung out with 3 times who dealt with me and took me all the way home, its right there in the love of my mom telling me I am okay, its just a phone, I still have control - knowing what was going through my head and how to unstick me before I got stuck, its right there in the love of Jesus protecting me - giving me people and myself to manage through.

"happiness comes when we learn to be still"

This song "The Secret of Happiness" from the show Daddy Longlegs always makes me smile but today I heard this line louder than all the others. Being still is what I have been trying to focus on this year in Paris. It is the last affirmation on my list "I am still" - hoping if I repeat it enough, my brain will catch on and it will be true.

"Living in the now. Living in the time it takes to blink I think is how, we are meant to be living"

No matter how planned my life or day is, things will change and things will disrupt the plan. We are meant to be living in the moment, in the second right in front of us with those who we are surrounded by.

"Its your life what are you going to do the world is watching you...Everyday the choices you make say what you are and who your heart beats for."

These lyrics are iconic. And I know these songs backwards and forwards but today they ring true and somehow I am standing here smiling ready to breathe in the next week not afraid of what else Paris has to over ready to laugh about yesterday.

"Live the way you believe, this is the opportunity to let your life be one that lights the way."

I had a full on panic attack in a Paris metro because my phone just suddenly disappeared. It wasn't my fault and there was nothing I could do about it. I was prepared and I was smart and still something out of my control happened. With the help of my mom, friends, and host mom I bought a new phone and have a sim on the way. I spent the rest of my day watching a movie, made my bed (and my new side mattress for sleepovers), and sang through some of my rep of music. I finally opened my window shade and even cracked open the window. The scary grey storm clouds have broken and sun is shinning through with blue sky. Its as if my life followed the weather. Before going out last night I texted my boyfriend and said "I can feel a storm brewing" and he asked "weather or people". I meant weather but isn't it kind of funny to look at my last 24 hours. My mom said - man do you have stories to tell first your car was stolen and found a month later, and now your phone was taken off your person in Paris.

My panic was fully justified. Its how I deal with the aftermath that defines me. 'To live the way you believe is the opportunity to let your life be on that lights the way.' I will not shut down this week. I will not wallow in the couple weeks of lost photos, the parts of my phone I have to re-organize, the inability to watch "Vampire Diaries" for two days. I will take this and write about it, I will go out take everything in around me. I will show others how I can handle things with grace (after processing through it).