We enjoy spending time in the Kruger National Park. It’s always pleasant to get up early in the morning and get ready to go looking for animals. I’m always the one who wakes the others up and when our children were still small, I loaded them still sleeping into the bakkie. 

Sometimes we wait in line for half an hour before the gates open. We’re right at the front of the queue to be the first to wake up the animals sleeping on the hot tarmac. 

All of us are very excited and we’re literally and figuratively on a lion hunt. Everyone wants to see a lion or a leopard and, somehow, we don’t notice all the other animals and how they do things. 

When you’re so focused on one goal, chances are good that you’ll miss all the other wonderful animals and happenings. I wonder how many beautiful animals we missed, just because we were so focused on the boss of the animal kingdom. 

The day we realised this, we made a point of stopping at each animal we saw and taking a good look at that animal. We downloaded a wonderful app that tells us everything about each wild animal. What it eats, how it hunts, what its external characteristics look like, and more. 

Suddenly, every animal, no matter how small or how big, was a wonderful experience. We couldn’t wait for the next elephant that has 40,000 muscles in its trunk, a trunk it can use not only to push over a tree but also to shell a peanut without breaking it. 

Or the impala ram with a group of ewes of its own and when a few of them wandered off, came loudly calling them. And saw them run quickly back to their group. If I were a buck, I would probably do the same. 

Yes, every morning we can’t wait for the gates to open so that we can be surprised by all the wonderful things that await us around every corner. 

God not only surprises us with wonders in the animal world but also in our ordinary lives as children of God, He surprises us around every corner. 

I suspect we miss most of these wonders, because we wait for the “big” things to happen. Waking up each day is truly a gift. So many things could go wrong during the night. 

When we anticipate God’s surprises at every turn, the “small” miracle of waking up each day becomes a special occasion. Then, God’s presence will become increasingly evident in our lives. 

Listen, my brothers and sisters whom I love so much, we’re already children of God. What wonderful things will happen to us in the future, we don’t know. 

Live each day fully expecting God to work wonders along your path. Be watchful for them, both the grand and the seemingly small. 

Then you will increasingly discover God’s involvement and providence in your life. 

Scripture
1 John 3:1-3 

Reflection
Do you experience God’s presence in your life every day?
Are you still surprised when God just shows up?
Where do you miss His showing up in your life? 

Prayer
Father, I have to admit, I don’t always see where you’re working anymore. So, I’m not always surprised. Help me, Father, to expect you around every corner and to be open to those surprises. Amen.