Of curve balls and sucker punches

"Life is pain, highness. Anyone who tells you differently is selling something."

-- The Dread Pirate Roberts

I'm young. Despite having a lot of life experience for my age, I've still been spared from a lot of the pain in the world.

A person I know recently lost his wife to cancer. Four months ago they were planning their next phase of joint ministry, now she's gone and he's left picking up the pieces. That's a curve ball that hits you in the gut.

People lose jobs, get divorced, deal with loss of all kinds.

Then there's the American presidential election. Who would have thought we'd end up with the options we've got? Curve ball? Sucker punch? Something.

Back on Clove Island a man was killed by a mob. His family on another island thought that he'd been freed from the evil spirits but they returned, he killed someone, and vigilante justice prevailed. His family and former neighbors are suffering.

Terrorism, acts of violence, pain, fear-- the world seems like it's a mess.

And it is.

But what did we expect? And where do we turn when the unexpected happens? My plans for returning to Clove Island are a little up in the air (don't worry, America's not stuck with me quite yet, it's a question of when I return, not if). And I'm left with the usual question of...

... wait for it...

... what did you expect?

Where will you turn?

Pray with me as I consider options and look for leading.