A WING AND A PRAYER "A New Thing"

Opportunities arise for all of us. How do we respond to people who disagree with us about war, or about the best course for our congregation? Do we hang on to a memory of how that person has bruised us, or do we love recklessly? How do we meet a stranger who asks for help? Do we see a person who might endanger us, or a person who needs something we can offer? - p. 109

Every day is a NEW day, and every relationship is a NEW relationship. While we are the sum total of our life experiences, and while identifying patterns and behaviors are valuable ways of navigating our way through the world, there is no reason not to allow that somehow God may be doing something new and unexpected at any given moment - even this present moment.

A few years back, I was walking home from work, twilight, warm early summer evening. In the distance was a guy staggering toward me, laughing, singing, and holding in his hand some kind of shiny, metal object. I thought to myself, "He's got a knife. How am I going to defend myself?" As he approached, he started calling out to me, "Hey! Lemme show you something!" My heart was pounding, and I tensed up and prepared for what I was sure was going to be a confrontation. As he got closer, I realized that he had in his hand a shiny new screwdriver. Out of an apartment building close by came a group of what must have been his buddies, singing, "Happy Birthday to You." He showed me his brand new screwdriver, his buddies laughed and said that they hoped I hadn't been accosted in any way. I wished him a happy birthday, and he said to me, "God bless you!"

I EXPECTED one thing, the worst, because I've seen one too many episodes of C.S.I. What I got, however, was a lesson from God that, while preparation for the worst might be necessary for survival, it's okay to expect the best, as well. What might look like danger may actually be blessing; it's just dependent upon the circumstances and the perspective. Katherine's sixth segment of her book, "Reckless Love: Living Faith with Abandon" is a great reminder that we can expect blessing in the midst of challenge, if we allow ourselves to do so.