A week before Christmas we arrived at the Nashville airport to head home.  During the previous 11 days, my husband and I had spent many long hours helping with disaster response after tornadoes had torn through the area.  We were exhausted and left with little time to prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth. 

As we entered the airport, we came upon a children’s choir singing familiar Christmas carols.  I was moved to tears.  In an unlikely place, God surprised us with those lovely voices.  My preparation for Christmas had begun.

God is full of surprises in the Christmas story.  Mary was startled at the visit of Gabriel.  Joseph was surprised at his visit by an angel.  All except the religious scholars were surprised that the Christ child would be born in Bethlehem.

We too can be surprised by God.  If we look, we may see God in the expectant eyes of a child or the desperate look in the face of someone who is homeless or hungry.  We can bring God’s presence into the emptiness where relationships are broken or the loneliness in families grieving the death of a loved one.  During Advent, we can look beyond our busyness to see God in unexpected places.

Prayer: Dear God, give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and minds to recognise your presence in the midst of our hectic lives. Amen.