“Surprise!”- The Element of Surprise is an Element of God.
Mundane, boring, and without gratitude is what life would be without surprises. The experience of life is hardwired to accommodate the unexpected, the unknown.
There is a reason why people who have the courage to face the unknown are often praised. On an even higher level, there is a grand reason why you end up saying a huge “Thank God” every time things turn out fine after facing uncertainties.
You see, surprises are a key feature of life. We have all met, or heard of, people who are willing to go to great lengths in order to create a sense of mystery. People who will do anything but reveal their next move. In war, the element of surprise can mean winning or losing. At birthdays, presents lose their charm unless they can surprise you.
Life is full of surprises. Things hardly turn out the way we expect, and whenever they do, life becomes lackluster. I have never met someone who was genuinely happy for being able to correctly predict what will happen next. True happiness, real joy, occurs when things happen in your favor after beating the odds stacked against you.
The Universe, or God if you may, knows what is happening now and what is going to happen next. It’s impossible to experience surprises when you are all-knowing. Humans are somewhat special in the eyes of God because we have the ability to perceive and experience surprises. In other words, the reason why you and I derive so much joy from facing the unknown is because we are not omniscient. If we knew everything that was coming our way, life would be next to meaningless.
You have no idea what the future holds. You don’t know if you will actually make it. You are not sure if people will keep their promises. But if all these things do happen in your favor, you will be surprised.
One thing is for sure: a life without surprises is a life without fun, excitement, and gratitude. What is the one thing you are bound to say when you are authentically surprised? “THANK YOU” or “YOU ARE GOD-SENT.” Nine times out of ten, gratitude is accompanied by appreciation and joy.
In the game of life, one has to appreciate the element of surprise. With it, you can create utterly profound experiences that are good for your spirit. It’s also a good idea to face the unknown. It’s the only way to unlock the surprises that lie ahead.
Hear me out, Joseph or Susan, take a moment to think about what I’m driving at here. Consider creating an element of surprise in everything you do. Do not talk about everything you are up to. Do it first and then talk about it later. Show, don’t tell. Talking about it takes away the element of surprise (and you might not end up doing it if you talk about it first).
Aren’t you surprised that I took a shot at explaining the element of surprise?
Article By Suzy Nyongesa.
