The Unexpected (3/31/2025)

This morning, the last day of March, I got up, grabbed my coffee and headed to the porch. It’s time for spring; spring began officially 10 days ago. I went prepared for a gentle breeze and the songs of birds. Instead, I encountered a table covered with snow. I returned to my kitchen, set my coffee cup down on the counter, grabbed a cloth, cleaned the porch table, and then with coffee in hand, tried it again. Life’s like that. We don’t always find what we expect.

This morning, I had a second surprise, I had finished my coffee and was at my desk when suddenly I heard a siren. At first, I thought it was an ambulance in our neighborhood. I stood up to walk to the front door to look when I realized it was coming from somewhere in my house. I followed the sound until I found that it was a new clock in the family room that believed it was time for me to wake up. I disarmed it.

I sat back down at my desk, and the LORD and I had a talk. I noted that I was beginning to see a trend here. Was He trying to tell me something? Was this all serendipity?

I found myself thinking about how I handle the unexpected. Am I open to that which I didn’t plan or desire? Do I take it in my stride, or do I get upset? And then my mind settled on a reality: what if anything in this life is guaranteed? And all my mind could come up with is the power and presence of the LORD everywhere and always manifesting His love. And I found myself sitting at my computer for some time, considering that truth and considering how I embrace that truth.

I spent time then thanking the LORD for the blessings in my life, for my family, for my friends, for my life, for their lives, for my home, for my gifts, for the opportunities to use them. And I found myself promising the LORD two things this morning: I will savor His power and presence in my life more deeply and I will not take for granted the blessings in my life – I will not “expect” – I will recognize them for the gifts they are.

The LORD is with us. This day, may we recognize that and embrace Him in whom we live and move and have our being. This day, may we be prepared for the “unexpected” and also give thanks for the goodness that is in our lives recognizing that it is gift.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.