These stories bring back to my mind a letter I received from my parents when I had not loo long before celebrated my 22nd birthday. The surprise was the my mother was pregnant. Not that the new child would be the 2nd child. This new child would be the sixth in the family. But Mom and Dad were in their early 40s! Surprise.
I am sure that my parents had the feeling that the birthing of any additional children was beyond them. At this time in their lives, I am sure that both of them felt that they were finally in charge of their lives. But, God, as they learned, has much more control in our lives than any of us might think.
At this time in our spiritual journey, as we prepare to recelebrate the birth of Jesus, there is the opportunity for us to reflect on God's presence in our lives. We may be making many decisions at this moment: how many gifts to buy, what price level, how many Christmas card, who will be on invitation lists for parties and dinners. on and on. We are in charge. No doubt Manoah and Zechariah must have felt they were in charge of their lives.
God puts surprises in our lives so many times ... especially when we are not expecting any particular action in our lives. On October 19th I returned from five days away. During that time I accumulated some 40 miles walking each day without any pains or breathing problems. On Sunday the 21st I went for a walk and was forced to stop not even a quarter of a mile beyond the priests' residence. I could not breathe properly. Indigestion had me, I thought. Rolaids to the rescue. The next morning, walking to the barbershop just two blocks and the same sensation. Immediately to my internist. One week later I was lying on a table in an operating room for a procedure ... that made clear a full blown heart operation was needed asap ... the next morning. SURPRISE. SURPRISE. What was going on?
God puts signs along our spiritual route. Sometimes they are whispered. Other times they are sledge hammers that hit us from nowhere. God calls us through these surprises to examine ourselves.
Now some six weeks since the day of surgery, I realize that God gave me this SURPRISE to remind me who is really in charge of my life. As many have said, this was a wake up call. When these SURPRISES come to us, it is time to delve, delve , delve deeply into our lives to find the message from God.
Each of us can enumerate SURPRISES in our lives. Each of us, if the SURPRISE is to have significance in our lives, must take time to listen to the message God is giving in the SURPRISE.
I know my parents were surprised with the news that a sixth child was on the way. Personally, I know I was surprised with the surgeon told me open heart surgery asap. Now, like my parents, like Menoah and Zechariah, it is my turn to listen to the call of the Lord.
And you? What have the SURPRISE messages meant to you in your life? Have you taken the time to sift out a meaning?
