Expect the Unexpected

Are we ever ready for the unexpected? I venture to say “No” but can we be? Should we be?

I am a very organized person and I like to plan ahead and try to have all the bases covered in case the unexpected happens. So in theory, I guess we can expect the unexpected, and prepare accordingly.

As a student, I always carried extra pens, pencils and paper, a water bottle and a snack, and on math test days I even took an extra calculator or batteries. As a young mom, I remember always having a diaper bag filled with extra everything-clothes, diapers, blankets, water and FOOD. When we moved to Guam, we had a closet full of extra water, canned food, clothes and medicines in case we had to survive a typhoon. In California, we are encouraged to be prepared for earthquakes by having “earthquake preparedness” supplies in a safe place outside of our house, so we filled large garbage cans with tents and sleeping bags and food and water. When packing for a vacation, I seem to always take more than I need. Medicine in case someone gets sick, and snacks in case we have to run through an airport and don’t have time to get food for the plane. My kids and all their friends always knew that I was the mom with drinks and snacks for every sports game and every carpool or field trip. Preparing for physical needs is possible and probable-you need a plan, a list and the tenacity and diligence to carry out your plan. But the unexpected can still catch you off guard and before you know it you are unprepared physically to handle a difficult situation.

Planning for an emotional/spiritual need is not as easy to prepare for. There are resources available if there is a desire to seek and find and the willingness to read and study. There are counselors, religious leaders, teachers and mentors to talk to for insight and wisdom. Often an unexpected occurrence or circumstance is what motivates people to begin their spiritual quest. But for many people a painful emotional or spiritual situation causes doubt and questions and even anger and then a wall goes up and they hesitate to receive counsel or spiritual encouragement. Can we truly expect the unexpected emotional and spiritual needs? If we could anticipate all emotional needs and be prepared for all spiritual unexpected situations we would be denying God’s sovereignty and His control. Every emotional/spiritual need is an opportunity to surrender your will to the will of God, a chance to learn and grow and trust in wisdom that is stronger than our own and depend on a power greater than our own.

But there are shocking circumstances that we are never prepared for that catch us off guard like a diagnosis of cancer or the sudden death of a loved one. We may think we are prepared but we aren’t and that is when our community of friends and family can step in and help hold hands and help walk through the difficulty one day at a time.

Have you ever had an unexpected situation come into your life?
Who were the people that stepped up to help?
Have you ever had the chance to be one of the hand holders to help a friend through a hard circumstance?