Exceeded Expectations

Daily Gratitude Year Six-Day 334: Today, I am grateful for exceeded expectations.

This year... this month... or more likely, this very day, we have failed to practice ourselves the kind of behavior we expect from other people.  -CS Lewis 

In today's society, we have lowered our expectations of other humans. There was a day when people did the right thing, not because it was good for them personally, but because it was right and good for the greater good or a common goal. 

Perhaps, it is something that cycles over the course of a century or a millenium? This verse popped into my head and I think it is appropriate here:

In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. -Judges 17:6

The era of "the judges" was a tough one for the Israelites. The people were a bit lost after the deaths of Moses and then Joshua. They were in the promised land, but missing the guidance of a strong, God focused leader. "all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes." It is easy to imagine such a time. Simply turn on the news.

This is a season of hope. While the media loves to stress us out with the "hopelessness" of this moment in time, we can choose to refocus on what is real. There are people everywhere who every day wake up to exceed other people's expectations. We can be those people.

"The Dream Center" in Peoria was highlight at the "Love Peoria" night with Bob Goff a few weeks ago. How wonderful it was to hear and see the good that is being done in our community. The work... done in the name of Jesus ... is changing lives. One person at a time. Real relationships manifesting real changes. Our God still saves. He hasn't changed. 

In Springfield, "Wooden It be Lovely" was brought to my attention by my life long friend, Roxanne Stelle. Old furniture given new life by the very women trying to rebuild their lives. The Methodist church down there dreamed up the program. It, too, is changing lives. 

Dressember... wearing a dress every day to grow awareness and raise funds to free slaves here in the USA and around the world. 

Why do we tend to wait for someone else to take up a good cause? There is so much good to be done. We can live our lives like mission seeking missiles. We can seek out and find the good that needs to be done. Little acts of love that accumulate are the way to change the world. 

We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.-2 Corinthians 6:3  

CS Lewis was simply observing human behavior. Isn't it good to know that we can act outside of what is expected to be Jesus hands and feet in a desperate, hurting world. Random acts of kindness can change another person's day... their week... and eventually their life. 

One of my favorite old quotes: “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” -Stephen Grellet

Do it now! We shall not pass this way again. 

Today, I am grateful for exceeded expectations.