By Wendy Reaume

Joy found in unexpected places.  

Did you ever think that a glitch in your schedule could be the start of some wonderful surprise God has in store for you? Have you ever sat in the car completely overwhelmed and frustrated that now there is no time to make it on time and you are surely going to be late?

Obviously being late isn’t a good thing but sometimes it is because God has a divine appointment set up and He needs you to slow down so that connection can be made. This happened to me a few weeks ago.   I was visiting a friend in an independent living building and my key-flob had somehow fallen off the chain and now I was stuck outside waiting for someone to let me in. And that, my friends, was no quick process. It was almost like breaking into Fort Knox!

The first person just stood on the other side of the door glaring at me like I was just waiting to pounce and run with her purse.   The second person obviously felt badly, but mobility issues made it just too hard to get from the chair to the door. The third asked if I was the postman and when I said no, left as quickly as they came without letting me in. And funny enough, the one who finally did let me in was blind! She heard the knock and without further ado opened the door and began to chat.

I hurried to the elevator and at the exact moment that I arrived the outside door across from the lift opened and in walked Bambi. Yes, 83 and her name is Bambi. For real. Bambi is known to be a talker and despite any effort that could be made there was no escaping her attention this time. She had her arms stacked with empty boxes and after politely inquiring as to why she had so many boxes I learned that her friend had just completed MAID (medically assisted suicide for seniors) the day before, and Bambi was going to pack up the apartment—but not today because ‘surely my friend’s spirit is still in the house for another day or two.’ I was so taken back that I didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing.

We chatted a bit, me more listening than anything while frantically praying, and then we both got off on the second floor.   I went left and she went right.  I was almost down the hall when Bambi called me back. The following conversation ensued:

“You are too quiet. Don’t you agree with me?”

“I’m quiet because we need to have a conversation, but today isn’t the day. You are grieving.”

“But you agree with me, right?”

“No, but that’s ok. We can discuss it another day. How about if I take your number and after you kindly pack up your friend’s belongings this week I will take you for lunch and we can chat.”

“ok. But let me know that you agree because my mother committed suicide 52 years ago this week.”

Wow! I didn’t see that coming. But my heart was literally full of joy and bubbling over in gratitude because God not only orchestrated that perfectly timed meeting but He obviously cares deeply about Bambi and made her heart receptive to what she will hear. 

She has indicated that she has Christ in her life but obviously doesn’t understand how death works. 

Joy in an unexpected circumstance, with an unexpected person and in unexpected place.

May God be the choir master of all our situations of ‘surprised by joy,’ even if it means He has to slow us down.

Our song for today is Joy in the Morning by Tauren Wells.