The Unexpected

I was on my way to church Sunday morning when I came around a bend in the road and saw a rather unusual sight - a hot air balloon sitting there right beside the road. I slowed down, rolled down my window and asked, "Good morning! Need any help?"

"No, but thanks for stopping."

I supposed hot air balloons land in fields all the time. It's normal for them to do so. But it sure was unusual to see one that had landed right beside the road. I was NOT expecting that!

Later, after I had arrived at church, I was telling a friend about it and how we humans react seeing those unexpected things. What must it have been like when the disciples of Jesus were gathered in a locked room the night after Jesus was crucified?

^"19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord." - John 20:19-20

That must have been an incredibly unexpected moment. Can you imagine? Seeing your friend dead? Seeing him taken down from the cross and laid in a tomb? No one was really expecting to see him again. And then . . .

What would you say? What would you do?

All of us will see Jesus one day. For some of us it will be a joyous occasion. For others . . . Mmm, not so good. 

If you haven't done so yet, please, place your trust and hope in Jesus. We never know what is going to be around the next corner in life. Maybe it's an earthquake. Maybe it's a hurricane. Or two. Or three. Maybe it's a hot air balloon on a Sunday morning or an airplane flying into the World Trade Center. The question is, "Are we ready?"

People Get Ready - Eva Cassidy