Expectations
My Dear People,
Some years ago a friend pointed out to me that I sometimes shake my head back and forth, in the negative, upon hearing of something unexpectedly good. While I tried to play it off casually; that is, while I tried not to give away my surprise at what he had pointed out to me, I was indeed surprised, even mildly amazed. I had never noticed this about myself (thus the embarrassment), and yet, as soon as Stewart said it, I knew it was true.
What do I expect? What do we expect?
In my car now I have an interview done with Henri Nouwen, entitled "Beloved" (I quoted from it last month). I listen to a few minutes of it here and there as I drive around Richmond. At one point Nouwen says that we should not be surprised at how horribly people sometimes behave. Instead, he says, we should be surprised at the immense compassion and generosity that people sometimes manifest in their lives. If I'm honest, I don't like this. That is, I don't want to accept what Nouwen says. To the contrary, I want to give people the benefit of the doubt. I want to be more surprised by the horrible than the good. And yet I have to wonder about what Nouwen says.
What do we expect? What "should" we expect?
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There is an old A.A. adage that "Expectations are resentments under construction."
Are we then not to have any expectations?
What would it be like to live without expectations?
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Did I expect my son to be born so perfect and beautiful?
No, I wouldn't have dared to expect it. I certainly hoped and prayed. But I didn't expect it. Now that it has happened, I certainly thank God.
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What do I expect?
What do you expect?
Anything?
Nothing?
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Praise God from whom all blessing flow.
Your brother in Christ,
Wallace+
