Expect the unexpected.
On April 9, 25 of us from Lord of Life will join 10 others from Epiphany Lutheran Church in Dayton to embark on a Footsteps of St. Paul Pilgrimage through Greece and Turkey, visiting many of the biblical sites where Paul and others preached, taught, and lived during his missionary journeys. Part of our trip was going to take us via ship across the Aegean Sea to Ephesus, Mykonos, Patmos, Santorini, and other island excursions. Not anymore.
Tony Abuaita of Good Shepherd Travel recently received news that our ship, along with others from the cruise line, are stuck in the Arabian Peninsula after the winter cruising season in that region. From the cruise line: “In light of the ongoing situation in the Middle East, which has resulted in a delay to safely reposition our ships back to the Mediterranean, we would like to inform you that, following careful consideration, we will be cancelling all departures scheduled for April 2026.”
Our travelers have been talking about expecting the unexpected on our pilgrimage and the importance of flexibility, especially as we travel in a large group, but we had hoped there wouldn’t be such a major shift in our schedule so soon. Good Shepherd Travel is exploring other options for our canceled days at sea.
This isn’t the first time any of us have had to adapt to the unexpected. Each day, all of us begin with certain hopes and expectations that morph and shift in response to whatever the day brings. A flat tire, a detour, a cancelled appointment, a flooded basement, and other inconveniences disrupt many of our lives. A little pivot here and there might be aggravating, but they don’t usually dismantle our lives.
Other unexpected moments do. A fatal car crash, house fire, declaring bankruptcy, or being fired unexpectedly flip our lives upside down. We wonder how we’ll ever get past a terrible season.
As we move through this Holy Week, I wonder how the disciples and other followers of Jesus managed the unexpected events of those strange days. The palm procession, the foot washing and giving of a new commandment to “love one another,” the betrayal and arrest in Gethsemane, the accusations and beatings, the violence of the parade to Golgotha followed by the unthinkable crucifixion. None of them could’ve expected that the week would take such a dark and tragic turn.
They also could never have expected what would happen on Easter morning. Resurrection. New life. Hope and promise beyond the grave. Jesus spoke with them and once again promised to be with them forever.
As we hear these stories again this Holy Week, they remind us that no matter what life throws at us and no matter how the evil swirls around us and masks any sign of relief, the power and light of God continues to vanquish the darkness and radiates resurrection hope into all the dead and dying places of the world.
This is a message for you. This is a message for all. In a world full of expectations and unexpected moments, let us sing, pray, speak, and live like we expect Jesus to show up.
Living in Hope,
Pastor Lowell Michelson