What a Pleasant Surprise!

Fourteen years ago, I participated in the 53rd Walk to Emmaus. I recently came across one of my old journals in which I recorded my thoughts on the weekend. For the sake of the program, I won't go into any details about the walk (the effectiveness of the program depends on sleep deprivation and secrets kept. IYKYK). I will, however, say that the secrecy, the element of surprise woven throughout the weekend is something of a picture of our journey with Christ. We move through moments and obligations relying fully on Jesus to direct us and provide for us; He does --always --but I described this journey as "leading a life of pleasant surprises." Pleasant surprises? Who was I kidding? A weekend in a safe place, in a beautiful setting, with people who are encouraging you, feeding you --body, soul, and spirit --and lavishing love on you... Of course it's full of pleasant surprises! But life? 

Life is hardship and miracles, frustration and pleasant surprises, upheaval and transformation. The hardship, the frustration, the upheaval, they're easy to spot most days. To see the miracles, the pleasant surprises, the transformation, the mercy, the grace, the benevolence, to see the things of a good God in a broken and corrupt world, we have to be very intentional. Not because they are not here or they remain hidden, but because our new nature is always developing, and we enter this world with a fully developed old nature. Our old nature fits right in, is inclined to notice and follow the siren songs of a broken and corrupt world. Our old nature is predilected to pessimism and doubt, cynicism and hopelessness, self-centeredness and discontent. 

But our new nature, given to us when we choose to follow after Christ, is engaged in an uphill battle with a world that despises it, a self that rejects it, and an Enemy that will do everything in his power to snuff it out. Our new nature is the imitation of Christ, the fruit of His Holy Spirit, the means by which we glorify our Heavenly Father. Our new nature unfolds its wings like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, sticky, wet, and awkward; not able to bear the weight of our own bodies. But in time and with testing, the wings of our new nature unfold and carry us to places we never would have dreamed. We speak differently to ourselves and others. We see God at work in even the most difficult circumstances. We forget the things of the past and fix our eyes on our future in eternity with our Savior. We become "seasoned saints," tried and tested, equipped, bringing glory and honor to the Father by our testimony. When life throws us curveballs, when we are staring into uncertainty, when the world is railing against us, we rely on Jesus to direct us and provide all we need. His presence is constant and consistent. And with hearts surrendered to Him, eyes trained on Him, our new nature matures, strengthens, and usurps the worldly narrative. Our old nature falls away, we no longer see life through the lens given us at birth, but with a perspective imparted to us at the new birth, we begin to lead a life of pleasant surprises!