Two yolks

Sometimes we get lost in our little world. It can be demanding. Stressing. Full. Overwhelming. We think we’re doing life as normal – communicating, accomplishing. Today I was doing the mundane – making breakfast – when a surprise happened.

There truly are few surprises in life, right? I mean, yes, we can say we’re surprised by world events, or circumstances not to our liking. But I’m talking good surprises. The kind that suddenly turns the mundane into sunshine, or temporarily lifts worry, or give a moment to get perspective. So, as I cracked my egg into sizzling butter, two bright yolks plopped into the pan. Not sure about you, but I didn’t know that could happen.

At a Bible study group this morning we discussed how John the Baptist must have felt when Jesus came out to the river to be baptized. “But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ ” (Matthew 3:14 NIV) But the Savior steps into the water and with amazement John plunges Him under and back up. Surprise, heaven opened, the Holy Spirit descended as a dove, and the earthly ministry of Jesus began in earnest. I bet that wasn’t on John’s radar when he stepped into the river that morning.

God has a way of comforting that no one can match. We have all kinds of ideas of how the King of Glory can make our day better. Lots of tips that we think would change things for the better. But He subtly reminds us of His care and complete ability to handle things. The reminder might be with His creation, an unexpected call or message, a good night’s sleep.

Even the smallest surprises can be take-my-breath-away moments. No fanfare necessary, no photographers capturing the moment. Maybe a skyline of thunderclouds backlit by a rising sun. A sideways crab coming up out of his sand hole. A baby’s contented sigh.

But life isn’t always going to have those moments. Then they wouldn’t hold their surprise element any longer. Sometimes just knowing someone is praying for us, a Bible verse suddenly being just the balm our soul needs, or a song repeating in our mind is enough to make us exhale the hard for a moment and breathe in the eternal.

We can’t rush past the ‘surprises’ – God wants us to slow down and savor them – if only for a few moments and a contented sigh. “Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:2-5 NIV)

Good things like an extra yolk for breakfast.