God's Magical Surprises

“God’s way is better than your way. His plan is bigger than your plan. His dream for your life is more rewarding, more fulfilling, better than you’ve ever dreamed of. Now stay open and let God do it His way.” ~Joel Osteen

Every year from mid-July to late August, the Perseid Meteor Shower gifts us a stunning celestial show. Gaining its name from its proximity to the constellation Perseus, the Perseid Meteor Shower peaks between the 9th and 14th of August, at which time viewers can see up to 60 meteors per hour in a clear sky. The comet Swift-Tuttle, orbiting every 133 years, is the parent body from which the meteorites originate.*

During the peak of the meteor shower, some friends and I took the opportunity to witness the astronomical event. We made our way to a school football field outside the range of the city lights. The minute we got out of the car, I saw a streak of light dance across the sky and knew instantly that a magical night awaited us. We laid in the grass and spotted several meteors racing above us. Then, my friend turned to her left and noticed faint streaks of green in the sky. She adjusted the exposure time on her phone to better discern what she was looking at. A few of us attempted to direct her back to the meteor shower, convincing her it must be nothing more than the school stadium lights (boy, were we wrong). After changing the exposure time on her phone, she discovered it was the Northern Lights!

Through the phone lens, we saw brilliant hues of green and pink paint the sky. It was a one-in-a-million experience, and I found myself with an afterglow of wonder. What struck me about the entire thing was that we went into the night with our eyes set on a different prize. Yet, God surprised us with something a million times more shocking and beautiful.

It reminded me of a quote spoken by the character Steve Edison in the movie The Wedding Planner: “What if what I think is great really is great, but it’s not as great as something greater?” I think sometimes, we go into life with a certain plan or expectation, blinders up to anything else that could happen because we don’t expect more for ourselves than what’s right in front of us. Maybe this looks like a difficult living situation, complicated relationship, or exhausting occupation. You may think this is all there is for you and things couldn’t possibly get better.

That mid-August night reminded me that God is more than capable of wowing us beyond our wildest dreams. Like a father’s elation at surprising his child with the perfect gift on their birthday, God experiences immense joy from witnessing His children's delight. We went into the evening hoping to encounter a meteor shower (which arguably was a pretty magical thing to begin with), but God somehow opened our eyes to something even more magnificent. I could almost hear Him whisper into the night: My children, I have more waiting for you. And I can’t wait to unfold it. Keep your eyes open.

What if we stopped getting so stuck on our expectations and opened our eyes to what God may have in store? What if we looked beyond our myopic views to see the magic that God is capable of dropping in our lives? We may enter into situations with our versions of how things will play out, but rest assured, God has a surprise act backstage that will leave us in awe.

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​*To learn more about the Perseid Meteor Shower, see Perseids