Unexpected Places

We go through life and we find things in unexpected places. I was traveling around the Athens area of Georgia yesterday and came upon a sign to view an historic covered bridge. I always thought of  a covered bridge a a northern phenomena to keep foul winter weather consequences off a river crossing. Snow and ice are dangerous for wagons crossing rivers in winter, but here in this area of Georgia it seemed like a big expense for little risk.

It made me think about those moments when circumstance or situations bring about an unexpected impact. A couple of weeks ago I was prompted to view a music video of the song "Stand By ME". It starts with one street musician and leads to a worldwide collaboration of street musicians. By the end the impact is emotional for many of us in a way that is unexpected. Google Stand by me street musicians and maybe you can view it as well.

Another example for me happens when I pray. I have asked God to help me through this time of grief after the passing of my beloved Marsha. I was thinking strength and courage when I prayed, but God has surprised me again. Recently I used My cable box recording capability to record "Good Will Hunting". I was a very smart underachieving wild man in my youth and the Matt Damon character always hit me as a reflection of my journey and the good that Marsha did for my life. I watched the movie expecting this impact again, but was surprised that it was the Robin Williams character that spoke to me. Remember he lost his wife to cancer and had put his life in a holding pattern. As a therapist he was challenged by the Matt Damon character about choosing to live as if life was over. He said he did not regret a single minute of his life with his wife and I started to cry. In the end he left for a trip and said he was putting his chips back on the table and see what happens. I found my own questioning and future in this movie but in an unexpected way. God was answering my prayer with an experience necessary for my wholeness, but not in the ways I would have planned. I pray I may remain open to the unexpected works of God. He sneaks in in the most beautiful ways. Keep it coming Lord.