Unexpected Gifts


 

It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm. I was outside enjoying time with some seriously wonderful middle schoolers. We were seated at picnic tables and enjoying a snack, a craft and Bible study. I was getting ready to launch into a long discourse on the meaning of Sabbath when it was clear that I was not even in the vicinity of holding anyone’s attention. Then it was pointed out that something awesome was happening behind me. I couldn’t turn around, so I grabbed my phone and took a picture, selfie-style. What a pleasant and joyful surprise!
I did not notice at the time that the photo captured not one, but two, hot air balloons. It turns out this was a double blessing, not a distraction at all. I guess we never can know what might drift into our lives, unplanned and unbidden, to bring us beauty and joy.
It is a shame that when we think of the unexpected in life, we so often go straight to the negatives. Unwanted news from the doctor. A problem at work. Unhappy people in our life. Changes in employment.
Another failure on the part of our leaders. These are real, and are an all too frequent occurrence. But sometimes, perhaps more than we realize, good and happy things drift into our life. We just fail to notice. We miss the photo opportunity.
A hot air balloon. A smile from a stranger. A beautiful sunset. The laughter of a child. The notes of a favorite song from years past. A memory that bubbles up of a loved one long departed. These are far from distractions, and these are far from negative.
James writes, “So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven.” All these unplanned and unexpected good and happy moments aren’t distractions at all. They are gifts. What a shame to miss them! Let us keep our eyes sharp and our hearts open. Who knows what might photobomb us today?
Peace.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

God is at Work

Image
In the early morning I was struck with this image. It seems to have it all. Green leaves. Red leaves. Clouds. Blue sky. The cross high and lifted up to the sky. It seemed to me that there was the stuff of several good photos in this one place and at one time. So I took the picture. Life is like that more often than not, isn't it? Good and bad. Happy and sad. Calm and chaos. Peace and turmoil. The season of Advent and the celebration of Christmas acknowledges this reality. The people of old resigned to their fate, yet hoping in the future. John the Baptist bringing the good news that the time had come, yet thundering away at one and all. Mary afraid, yet faithful. A baby is born that changes everything, yet the world remains still weary and violent. But, in the midst of all this, in the midst of the whiplash of everyday life, God is at work. God is present. God is calling. In all of it. In every bit of it. Through it all, God is with us. During these holidays, when joy can be mixed
Read more

Quiet Surprises

Image
This little friend decided to pause and stare at me as long as I was willing to pause and stare at him. It was a beautiful moment of silence and calm and peace. I'm not sure how long we enjoyed each other's presence, but it seemed like quite a good while. I sensed no fear at all in this deer. Of course, I was on his turf and was armed with only my phone. I was driving when I spotted him, so I pulled over and parked. I thought he would rush back into the woods before I could take a photograph. What a pleasant surprise it was. Sometimes surprises burst into our life loud and big, like a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" at a surprise party or in a humming crowd at some huge event. But at other times, surprises slip into our consciousness, subtle and understated. A deer at the edge of the woods. A card with words of love when you need it most. The smile of a friend long missed. A feeling of peace when life is anything but peaceful. In fact, it may be that those quiet
Read more

Live Out Loud

Image
This is one big Woodpecker! I was visiting some friends who live in the mountains and saw this bird right outside the window as I sat in my chair and read. It is a Pileated Woodpecker, a bird that grows to be up to 19 inches long with a wing span of 30 inches, weighing 14 pounds. I still feel the same excitement when I see one today as I did as a boy. They are spectacular creatures. I'm sure that one reason I like them so much is that they remind me of Woody Woodpecker, a favorite cartoon of my boyhood. But another reason they catch my eye is they seem so strong and self-assured. They carry themselves with a sense of confidence. When they go to work on a tree, they are loud and proud. When they swoop in and out through the woods, they own the airspace. These beautiful birds live out loud. I have a feeling that when we live out loud, we might exude that same kind of confidence. When we know who we are, and more importantly, who we want to be, it shows. Not in bravado or arrogance, b
Read more