Sometimes things happen in life you don’t expect.
Like how my husband and I came home the other day to find that our shower door had fallen off and crashed to the floor in a million pieces — and I don’t just say “a million pieces” for dramatic effect. I mean that the combination of the glass door, the travertine tile and the force in which the door dropped to the ground came together in this stupid, perfect storm that manifested in glass shards and glass dust we’re still finding, a week later.
We weren’t expecting that.
(and who would, by the way — have you ever heard of a shower door falling out of it’s track?)
We also weren’t expecting to be flying to Portland, Oregon this week to visit my family. We expected we would at some point, definitely, but we didn’t think that it would be now, weeks before the launch of Shoreline Church, and we didn’t expect it to be for this unfortunate reason — my dad is having open heart surgery.
That came out of nowhere.
Just like his Cardiac Arrest this past March.
I didn’t expect that I would be working at Starbucks in this season of my life, and I especially didn’t expect that I would be enjoying it, or aspects of it at least. If you would have asked me a year ago, cozy in my little apartment in Portland, I wouldn’t have had any concept of the people I would meet, co-workers and customers, who would impact my life.
I couldn’t have imagined how I would impact theirs.
In fact, if we’re backing up a year, I have to acknowledge that a year ago I had no idea I would be living in Florida, or that I would be married, or that I would be planting a church with my husband. I didn’t know that we would be co-owners of Prodigal Magazine because, well, I barely even knew my husband.
A year ago this month I spoke to him on the phone for the first time.
He was a man I respected, but I didn’t know who he would become to me.
That was really unexpected.
And I didn’t know when I married him, four months later, and moved my stuff to Florida, that the dear friend of mine who planned our wedding would, eventually, move with us. I didn’t know that she would move in with us, that she would become a part of our lives and ministry.
She has been the most unexpected blessing to me.
And speaking of moving, recently we moved into a new apartment, and I didn’t have any idea when we set out looking that a place as existed as beautiful as this one. We were on a budget, and we had looked at so many already, and I don’t know, I guess I just had it in my mind that we were going to end up some place boring.
And now every morning, when I wake up and look out the window, I’m reminded that life is full of the unexpected –
And that that’s actually a good thing.
Question: What has been unexpected in your life lately?
So often, the unexpected is annoying or sad that we miss when it’s an illustration of God providence. We’ll be praying for you and your family this weekend.
Thank you Matt, for your words and for praying. We appreciate you and are so thankful for your friendship.
Ally, you’re writing from my heart again. A year ago I was returning from China aimlessly shooting out resumes. I didn’t know I’d be living here, be making a living as a freelance writer, be part of the Prodigal team, be ghostwriting for someone I’d only dreamed about talking to, be grant-writing for an organization I believe in, be part of a house church, etc. I could not have predicted any of this. I was expecting a comfortable job in a new city where I was struggling to find a church and get plugged in or maybe even full-time mission work in some foreign country. Funny how God works. Funny how fast God works.
Katie
Katie — it is funny how fast God works! I’m learning that I enjoy life more when I sit back and marvel at what he’s doing, rather than trying to “figure it out” all the time.
We’re so happy to have you on the Prodigal team. Can’t wait to see the story that God is unfolding for you!
Ally,
Love this post and how deep it speaks into my life right now.
Unexpected things happen all the time. I’ve learned that when we remove our expectations from our life and situation, God does amazing things. When unexpected things to do happen in life, they can be good things because it all points back to Christ.
You’re in my thoughts and prayers. Love and appreciate you.
Julie — what you said about expectations is really valuable. Expectations can keep us busy thinking about how life “should” be, which really gets in the way of enjoying what it actually is.
Thank you for sharing. Appreciate you and your prayers.
I’ve finally met a man that believes in God and goes to church with me.I always beleved I had to meet him them drag him to church….but a man that gets donned up for church all on his own and sings his heart out while in the service?priceless!