“Finding God in All Things.”
Most people love surprises! There are some, though, who cannot stand surprises and yet, these are the ones who are usually caught off their guard; they are often taken very much by surprise, sometimes only becoming aware of the surprise when it has by-passed them.
It is very interesting to reflect upon our own preferences in respect of the unexpected; to ponder those things that we do not mind getting unexpectedly and also those things we would much rather not come our way. Dare we ask ourselves the question, “Why the one and not the other?” What about the originator of either or both?
Living life at a high level of expectancy necessarily entails an equally high level of risk. Yet, this happens to be the challenge that confronts every one, especially those of some form of religious faith, every day of his/her life. There is something immensely exciting about living life at a high level of expectancy; looking out for surprises as or when they might come our way; when and where, but not necessarily ‘How?’.
“So, what’s the Big Deal?” the impatient may well intrude, “Surely everybody lives life at varying heights or degrees of expectancy?”
Indeed! It is not enough, though, to live life at high levels of expectancy; the powers of perception or discernment need to be sharpened or honed. One needs to be able to “see”, to “hear”, to “feel” and, generally, to be more acutely aware of the nudging of God’s Spirit that moves constantly and unobtrusively in and through Creation -all that lives and breathes; recovering, restoring, reshaping, remolding and devising new challenges for His people - challenges and opportunities which can help and enable them to be transformed or to grow into the sort of beings they are intended to be.
This is clearly not as easy as it may sound. That is probably why Jesus, and later St Paul, offers a tiny but most important piece of counsel -if not an admonition- “Be on the alert!” Watch out for the nudging and the promptings; be sensitive to what comes through to you in your own feelings, thoughts and, indeed, in your own experiences.
It is good to live our lives filled with expectancy. Every Christian, nay, every human being should live her or his life with a profound sense of anticipation and alertness. Is such an attitude not at the heart of ‘Faith’ and ‘Hope’?
For Christians, the Season of Advent which begins this Sunday could be a time to reflect on “Where they are on “Life’s journey” and “Where they are heading.” In other words, do some sign-watching in their lives. Although such 'sign-watching' should be an on-going procedure throughout life, this is a good time to start...or re-start. Become more keenly aware of what is happening within...and outside themselves.
Hope you are ’in’ for many surprises… mostly pleasant ones…. All of them creative!
