Friday, December 2, 2022

“Expecting the Unexpected”

 

Hooray for Friday! Fridays are the best for those that work a typical, Monday through Friday work week. However, this is December, which means that many of us are even more excited than normal! Children can see Christmas lights at the end of the tunnel and teachers are buckling down for a much-needed break from the action. People are preparing for Holiday parties and folks are climbing into attics and basements to retrieve their Holiday decorations. Fridays in December are the best!

Fridays for me, on the other hand…not so much. Oh, I normally love me some Fridays. This is my normal day off, allowing me to hit the water for some much-needed quality time with Mr. and Mrs. Spotted Seatrout. This time of year, however, is by far my busiest time of the year. Sure, as a pastor, I expect it and I plan accordingly. However, that still doesn’t preclude me from staring out the window, wishing that I was outside playing… And I’m not the only one. Anyone who works in retail is also buckling their chin straps as they prepare for the Holiday Crush, and emergency responders are preparing for a chaotic month of the flu, household accidents, and a myriad of mischievous gremlins that always surface this time of year.

Sure, this time of year is awesome for most of us, however, there’s a big wad of us that will struggle while we’re expecting the unexpected. Patience is already in short supply, thanks to those knuckleheads in our family (especially Uncle COVID and Aunt Inflation). We will need some help!

Instead of a Happy-Happy “Call to Christmas”, today I’m gonna lay down a challenge for us to enter the Holiday Season more aware of the people we will encounter, especially those whose work in retail, education, public service, churches, and any other industry whose busy season is upon them. The people who work in these busy places wish they could be doing something else. Like me, they have been preparing for the mishaps like broken toilets, mislabeled price tags, long lines, busted fuses, and ill family members that will certainly surface.

In case you are one of those folks who want to know how you can help, the best suggestion I can offer is this: Be ready to offer excessive Grace and Patience, everywhere and with everyone. Bad drivers will be on the road. Waiting rooms will be filled. Police, fire, and medical people are working 24/7 and children will be crying in the grocery store. Use your imagination and come up with a truly bizarre situation that pushes your wits to their limits and prepare! Expect the Unexpected!

“Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other.” (Ephesians 4:2, CEV)