“I hate surprises”, I remarked a while back to several people after I was kept out of the loop on some issues at work and things didn’t go my way and I needed to vent.  Well…the truth is that I really don’t hate all surprises, I just dislike ones that aren’t so great.  Don’t we all?

Since I made that remark, it’s been remarkable how many positive surprises have happened along the way.   Maybe there’s a lesson in here for all of us.

1. I was sitting at lunch one day, reading the electronic version of the newspaper on my phone, when I happened to glance out the window and notice a lady get out of a car with several kids.  A man got out after a minute as well and they all walked into the restaurant.   Not really paying attention, I went back to my hamburger.  A minute or so later, I realized who the man was – and lo and behold it was someone I’ve known since he was in third grade or so (many years ago) who has moved out of state- and his parents were some of our closest friends.  What a wonderful surprise as we spent a few minutes catching up!
2. My wife and I were celebrating our twentieth anniversary – and we took a trip to a remote location accessible only by ferry.  Because it was cold, we walked all by ourselves on the beach for a few minutes.  As we turned to leave, I heard something behind that sounded like squirrels chattering.  Being an old hunter (and not a tree in sight), curiosity got the better of me and I turned back – just in time to see several pair of dolphins playing in the ocean right behind me and chattering away.  This picture doesn’t do the scene justice, but you get the idea – for a brief moment, God allowed us a wonderful surprise with a glimpse into his creation.
3. Same trip, second verse… the next day we were eating lunch (anybody else discern a pattern here?) in a restaurant on the island, when some guys came in from their work to grab a bite to eat.  As they sat down, I did a double take at the man with a stocking cap on with his back to me and tried to mouth silently to my wife “Is that so and so”?   Of course, she couldn’t decipher what I was trying to say and I finally gave up, turned around, and did what you are never supposed to do – I said the man’s full name loudly in his direction.  Good thing I guessed right – it was someone I hadn’t seen in several years who had moved to that area and was working on the island.  We spent the rest of the lunch catching up.  Again, what a wonderful surprise!

Solomon said it well many years ago in Proverbs 10:22.  “It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and he adds no sorrow to it (NASB).”

Along the way, there have been a few unpleasant surprises as well, such as the major error every time I tried to load this picture.  But we won’t dwell on those!!

What surprises are you thankful for this thanksgiving season?