Surprises

     Surprises --- who of us does not like them from time to time?  Your wife’s face literally beams when you surprise her with a flower arrangement or some candy.  Especially when you do it for no special reason.  And when the boss gives you that unexpected bonus --- words cannot really describe the feeling you have.  I know, it doesn’t happen very often:  maybe never!  But if it did!  How about when the children do their homework, clean their room, cut the grass, or wash dishes --- ALL without even being asked?  Yes, some surprises are truly overwhelming, but nice just the same.

     However, there are seemingly more and more surprises today that are not really wanted.  You’re sitting in a fast food place eating with your family and suddenly a mad man rushes in and opens fire with a rifle.  Or your child is at school and one of their classmates has brought a weapon and suddenly attacks the teacher or another one of the children.  Or maybe not just one student, but a person opens fire to see how many he/she may kill or injure?  Imagine the horror of the woman in Florida some years back who was being interviewed on a television news program at the grave site of her recently deceased child.  Suddenly her ex-husband came into the scene and opened fire on her repeatedly.

     Many politicians, economists, religionists, and others have noted that since the turn of the 20th century, especially since World War I, the world has gone mad!  It’s hard to know what to expect from the people you meet on the streets each and every day.  The woman that pleasantly smiles at you as you pass on the street could be stealing her employer blind.  Or the man who proudly drops off his children at school each day could be beating his wife constantly at home or perhaps even abusing his children.

     You don’t have to try and “think up” situations that may provide these surprises.  Just turn on your television for any evening news report and you will hear the things that will make you sick at your stomach.  It’s almost getting to the point that you no longer want to hear the news.  Just when you think it can’t get any worse - - - IT DOES!

     We can blame our actions on others, on the system, or even excuse ourselves by saying “that’s just the way I am”.  But if we don’t start becoming responsible for our actions and doing the best we can to eliminate this injustice, we’re going to find ourselves with the biggest surprise of all --- the “man upstairs” --- the guy holding our “lease on life” is going to tell us the “lease” is up!  Where will we be standing when that event happens?

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"There are good surprises,

there are bad surprises,

we'll get them both when we least expect it.

That's why they are surprises!"