Alerts

There are two kinds of surprises.  First are the good kind, gifts of the heart, compassion, and mercy.  They take the form of objects, acts, and best of all thoughts.  I find myself left with a more clear vision of Hope.  I find myself holding memories and experiences that give me confidence in the future.  The impact humbles and brings me into a circle where I can see, feel, and touch the values I hold most dear.
 
The second kind of surprise occurs when something unfolds which I should have know about or anticipated.  As I reflect on the surprises, I frequently find a relationship dependency that fails to work as laid out in a trust equation.  It is extraordinarily frustrating!  I invested in a relationship, establishing what I thought was a trust component.  I gave willingly, assuming that there was a link to events in the future.  I expected an early alert.  Clearly bad things can and do happen.  I anticipated a community where we worked together.  At times, it does not and did not.
 
The questions are never easy.  “Let me ask you, did anyone guess that this might happen?  Did anyone tell us earlier so we might confirm it with ‘Yes, he's right!’?  No one mentioned it, no one announced it, no one heard a peep out of you.”  (Isaiah 41.26)    
 
I see the questions don’t end with others, they apply to me as well.  Divinity invested in my life and yours.  Divinity is willing to act yet depends on our alert and permission.  There is an open or closed gateway, turning on the freedom each of us has, holds, and uses. 
 
We should always strive to be more alert.  To establish and gain the trust of those around us so honesty and transparency comes naturally.  At times it doesn’t work.  In these moments, accountability and honesty are paths to a better future.  This works for others as well as for our self.  Today I am alerting God – I need help.  I am willing to help.  There is work, for both of us.