the UNEXPECTED

Some people LOVE surprises...some do not. Either way, you will be surprised along life's road!

A genlteman at church was sharing about his drive in that morning...he'd come to a stop sign, at which he has stopped numerous times- and over the course of years could only account for actually stopping for traffic,only two cars, in all those years! He stopped for the sign, not the traffic. And, had developed what is common: a kind of 'rolling stop'; the one where perhaps the word 'stop' is generously applied to an action which 'slows-to-an-almost-kinda-a-stop-to-moving forward', with such fluidity that the actual stop is alomst nondiscernable.

Anyway- amazingly on this bright, cool, sunny morning, this gentleman approached the intersection as he had been accustomed to; but was completely startled to find that lo-and-behold, out-of-the-blue, here comes a car- just as he was deftly performing his habitual 'stop' maneuver! Thankfully, although he had arrived at this point in a state of apathy- the event awoke him from that state and rushed him into the action of coming to a complete, emphatic STOP! Just as the car passed by on the road onto which he was about to turn.

His lesson to share was 'expect the unexpected'!

It is certainly a truism, and one that we apply in life with the same approach as the gentleman had done as he approached the sign ...with apathy, or an 'I know'! Truth would sadly bear out many times in our individual, and collective lives, that we indeed may 'know it'- but we get pretty slack in practicing what we know.

First thing to come to mind is that we need to begin with understanding what the truth is (is it inherently true and reliable)- Taking knowledge then into understanding...then applying value,. If I know, understand- that I may be hit by a car if I don't stop at the sign (or at the least, get a ticket)...that might not really be enough concern (value) for me...but add to it: I don't want damage to my vehicle, my life, my family, my friends... These values become the catalysts which cause me to apply my values and beliefs into the action of following what I know to be true.

Even at that, complacency comes into play...because we 'know something'- it can get tucked away in the 'been there-know that' file in the back of our brain...until we are startled back to its relevancy...hopefully before its too late and damge is suffered.

Another dimension of this thought comes into play in Christendom, where there are some glass-paned ivory towers up which we climb, those 'been there-know that' files deeply set- giving us an energized step as we climb ever higher. From the top- we look out at all those poor souls who just don't have the files of knowledge that we have...our 'oh dear, pity thems' we say, hoping no one will notice the undertone of 'aren't I so much better'! Not many do notice- as they are too busy with their own binoculars... Until, the Good LORD comes with mirror in hand- and we are aghast to find a huge log in our eyes!- why how is it that we could even have brought those binoculars up to our face?... We allow Him to gently remove the log, and lead us back down from the tower- a way known as the stairs of humility. (Not to be confused- this is not the stairs of shame!)

Trust me, the more often you come down those those stairs with the Master- the less often you want to make that climb up. Scripture tell us to 'be humble' be alert' 'stand firm' "Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by menas of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.: (1Peter 5:6,7,8,9-10)

Of more concern than even mortal wound, is spiritual wounding- and many times it is our own doing. We are sometimes in the most danger when we think we are safest.

Expect the unexpected.