The Unexpected (07/15/2024)

I owe you an apology. The last couple of days, I did not post as usual, and it caused some concern. I am fine. Life around me was complicated. I am truly sorry if my silence worried anyone.

Last week my husband did something unusual. He asked me to go on an unplanned adventure. I was so ready for a short “get away.” I jumped at the opportunity. We headed up north to Superior. We had never been there before. We spent four days on the shore of Lake Superior, relaxing by the lake and taking in the sights. Saturday, I wasn’t able to get the posts made before we needed to check out. Then Sunday morning at 5:40 the power and the internet went out. Our service wasn’t restored until the afternoon.

Life is like that, the unexpected is to be expected. Our lives are often marked by surprises and storms. I was reminded of this while in Superior. At the hotel, I found a picnic table to go to in the morning with my coffee for my usual “wake up routine.” However, others had the same idea. Daily, I was joined by others. And each of them was in Superior for the funeral of a loved one. My wake-up routine truly did wake me to the reality of life and its unpredictable nature.  

I met some wonderful folks at that table in the mornings. I heard so many stories told with love about those being mourned. I didn’t regret the unexpected, the encounters with others when I’d planned for a quiet intro to my day. I found as I walked back to my room each morning that I’d spent time with the LORD as is my morning custom, only this time we had company.

I am reminded of so many of Jesus’ parables that warn us to be prepared for the unexpected such as the parable of the 10 virgins with lamps and the parable of rich fool. We do not know the hour; we need to live with the understanding that we must be ready at all hours. We are called to live as Christ’s every day and everywhere.

And we need to be open to the unexpected. The people of Israel didn’t expect a Messiah from a poor family in Nazareth. They didn’t expect their Messiah to be the Son of God.

How is the LORD present to us today? Is the LORD meeting us on our journeys in unexpected ways at unexpected places? Is the LORD calling us through the moments of our days, through the people we encounter, through the trials we experience? Will we be open to the LORD even when the LORD comes to us in unexpected ways?

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.