​Embrace the Unexpected Pastor Cris

 I have found over the past few weeks that some of the most fruitful and meaningful moments have been the unplanned ones. At first glance this might sound counter-intuitive. I say this because my experiences over the past year have reminded me of how important intentionality is. Since you will not accidentally bump into friends at church or the store, for example, reaching out and arranging these times has been vital.

​That said, with how unexpected this past year has been, many, if not all of us, are tired of it. “God, how about a little more expected?” “Can we have a little more predictable and a little more known?”

Perhaps these assurances will return. However, we should never mistake the comfort of having a plan for the illusion of being in control. We never can dictate what tomorrow or the next day will bring, but we can prepare ourselves to be present to the unexpected gifts these days will bring.

Here a few moments that come to mind for me:

• The surprise gift dropped off at my door.
• Tim’s donuts waiting for you as you roll into your work space. The unplanned conversations with people at church who just came by to drop something off.
• Meeting my neighbour on a walk in the river valley; celebrating with her the birth of her new granddaughter. 
• The phone calls that go two to three times longer than I thought they would (And yes, they were just as long as they needed to be.)
• Watching the church and our ministry team prank Tom with a “flamingo fest”—first on his lawn, and again in his office.
• Scrambling to make snowmen in the backyard with the rare Alberta “wet” snow.

On the other end of these experiences, I think of the moments I have called and met with people dealing loss, those feeling overwhelmed. Often, none of us enter these moments with a plan, but we know God wants us there, present. That’s what matters.

God uses these unexpected moments to remind us that he is alive in all of them – every one. How open are you to the unplanned and unexpected?

I said this in a sermon a few weeks ago. My prayer for us as a church is that we will be completely dedicated to the reality that God is, that we always are open to what God is doing, even when our plans seem of course. Perhaps we’re actually syncing up our times and appointments with God’s schedule.

What does he have going on in your life day? Meet Him there.

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