The Unexpected Wonder

“But let the righteous be glad;

let them be in good spirits before God, 

Yes, let them rejoice with delight.”

- Psalm 68:3 (NIV)

We were in Colorado last week. My husband had meetings, so my daughter and I planned to spend the day together biking at Waterton Canyon. It was an unusually hot day in Denver (100°+), but Emma assured me that the scenery would be worth the sweat. 

We drove into the gravel parking lot, took our bikes out of her car, and rode across to the dirt road entrance to begin our ride. We both acknowledged at the start that it was REALLY hot and I wondered how far I’d make it on this possible 12-mile-in trek.

And then…

We were deep in the canyon, shades of tan and red rising rocky and steep on either side of us. The vertical view was stunning! And then, suddenly, a group of bighorn sheep came ambling down from the canyon heights. Amazingly, they were not afraid – they simply looked at us and walked by, just within our reach. We marveled at the number of them, lambs in tow, sure-footedly descending to the canyon floor to reach the green vegetation.

What a wonder! Sometimes God uses the most unexpected things to give us just the push we need to keep going. Maybe it’s an unexpected kindness. An unforeseen blessing. An unbelievable encounter. An extraordinary experience. You can’t miss it because God has grabbed your attention with the wonder of it.

God is in the business of the unexpected, and he delights in our delight! When he sends a surprise your way, do you remember to thank him for the delight-filled moment he’s planned just for you?

I will readily admit that we ended up only riding four miles into the canyon that hot September day. But every time I think of this amazing bike ride with my daughter, I’ll have the memory of us marveling at those extraordinary sheep climbing down the mountain toward us.

Emma told me, before the ride, that a black bear had been sighted recently in the canyon. Who knows? Maybe that will be an unexpected moment next time. 

Look for the unexpected! 

Today is a GOOD day!

~Natalie