One week in......any surprises?

Waking up each day with the prayer "Surprise me, God" takes some guts. I have always been of the opinion that a person should never ask a question that they don't really want to know the answer to. And, this prayer really could open up a can of worms I may regret later. But then again, I'm praying this prayer to the One that I should have no fear about. So, I hold my breath, and say it and go about my business...waiting for the surprises to roll in.

Nothing extra ordinary has happened this week. I'm in a huge organizational kick right now, so that and the normal upkeep and management of the home as well as being a wife and mommy has kept me busy. All the tons of snow outside and arctic frigid temperatures have pretty much kept me inside. And of course, it is snowing again. No surprises there.

Being organized makes me feel good. It makes me feel like my house is clean and inviting. There is no searching for items that I know I saw laying somewhere. There is no stress to find that one stupid little thing that I MUST have right now. Being organized allows me to be in control.

Being organized also shows me how much stuff we have. And, in reality, how much we have that is not necessary. Last night I stayed up way too late watching a show on The History Channel. I started watching about 2 minutes into it so I didn't catch the name, but the program followed a family through what would happen in the worst case scenario of a major flu pandemic that turns the entire world into a 3rd world country. No electricity, no oil, no running water, no antibiotics.....pretty much nothing but the shells of homes and the knowledge of those who are left behind and are not killed by the pandemic. And, the mass run for all the "stuff" we need or think we need.

There was one scene where this family of dad, mom and teenage boy finally get out of Los Angeles and make it to a small town. While there, some guys broke into the town stash of food, water and other supplies. They were shot on the spot...no questions asked. One of the commentators said that not many people today in industrialized countries think they could do something like that, killing a looter or turning people away who you know may die if you don't give them food or water. But, it is easy to be "nice" when you are comfortable. And we are very comfortable! As soon as that goes away, things will change. Survival will be your first priority and you will do things you don't think you may be able to do now. If you don't do them, you may die too.

This scenario has me thinking a lot. While I have started this 30 day prayer experiment, I also have joined in with a group of people who are reading through the Bible during this year. There is a lot in there that is hard to understand simply because life then and now is so very different. What was it like for Adam and Eve, when they were thrown out of the garden, to learn how to live off of the land? How did they learn about agriculture, shelter, clothing....all that stuff? What did they think as the seasons changed? How did they learn how to survive? What do I have in common with them and what can I learn from them?

I'm not sure and I probably won't know until I get to ask them and God in person. But, it is a lot easier now to picture how sin changed their lives, their comfort, their everything! They went from living simple lives in communion with God and His creation. I'm sure there was work they had to do, but it seems the garden was filled with food and everything they needed to live very well. That is until they ate from the tree of knowledge. It's funny how we all think the more knowledge we have, the better off we are. That was not the case for Adam and Eve. Sin is just as destructive today as it was when Adam and Eve ate from that tree but we are just too comfortable to always see and understand it.