Thursday, August 24, 2023
When my brothers and I were younger, my mom used to make us buy a present for each other at Christmastime. One year, my brother Benton bought me something I desperately wanted. He also knew that I couldn’t stand not knowing, so he tormented me about it.
My curiosity got the best of me one day, as it does many of us. One night, about a week before Christmas, I snuck into the living room while no-one was around, and I untaped one side of the package. There it was, a little metal cash box that had a combination lock and a key on it. Don’t ask me why I wanted a little bank so badly, but the secret was finally revealed, but prematurely. The pressure of my curiosity was relieved, but I spoiled the timing and the magic of anticipation.
My brother discovered my botched patchwork on the package and told my mother. I was chastised for my devious actions, and rightly so. Part of the beauty of a surprise is the pleasure it brings to the giver. We must learn to be comfortable with what we don’t know and even enjoy the anticipatory period. Yes, sometimes a surprise is not good news, but often it is. It’s the timing that’s important. What you need to know will be revealed to you in perfect timing. Nothing is too late or too early. The divine dance knows the next step, so don’t try to get ahead of it. It’s like trying to break open a rosebud. You’ll spoil the beauty. It must flower on its own. Can you trust the unknown, or does the darkness drive you to a hasty action? Don’t force. Let revelation come naturally. A fully mature surprise, at the divinely appointed time is best. Trust the process, and don’t try to coerce anything towards you before it’s supposed to come on its own accord.