Surprises.

I love this sign from the universe. Be kind. We need kindness in our world more than ever.

I'm someone who is slowly beginning to understand the power of prayer.

I think we all get a wee bit more spiritual as we age, don’t you.

Every morning I wake early, sit in silence, and spend time with God. Yesterday I was rushing out the door, so instead of my usual quiet time, I simply knelt beside my bed and prayed:

"God, surprise me today. I could use a surprise."

Then I hurried out the door.

The day unfolded as planned until I unexpectedly found myself with a little free time. On a whim, I called to see if I could get a last-minute massage.

"Yes," they said. "Come now."

I've been struggling with pain in my left shoulder for weeks. I assumed I'd pulled something.

(Perhaps from all the golf swings I've been practicing. And yes, I am absolutely loving learning golf. More about this journey soon.)

The massage therapist worked carefully on my shoulder, searching for the tightness. And then, as he released something, I burst into tears.

Not quiet tears. The kind where everything stops and someone has to hand you tissues. It wasn't physical pain. It was grief.

Raw, buried grief that had somehow settled into my body.

Now, I'm someone who pays attention to my body. I exercise. I take care of it. I listen to it. But this completely caught me by surprise.

The therapist quietly asked, "What's going on?"

I told him. He listened for a moment and then said something I'll never forget.

"That exact same thing happened to me. I'm just here to tell you that what lies ahead is so much better, Robbin. Karma is a crazy thing. Let karma take care of this. You take care of you."

That was it. No long speech. No attempt to fix me.Just a few simple words from someone who had apparently walked a similar road.

When we finished, I went to the front desk to schedule another appointment.

"I'm sorry," they said. "He's only here this week."

Then they smiled. "Isn't he amazing?"

Yes. He really was.

As I was leaving, he walked outside to say goodbye.

I smiled and said, "Tell your wife you were someone's angel today."

He smiled back.

"Yes," he said. "I will."

Maybe that was my surprise.

I'm sharing this because perhaps you need one too.

Maybe the world is kinder than we sometimes believe.

Maybe the message we need arrives through ordinary people on ordinary days.

Maybe when we ask God to surprise us, the answer doesn't come wrapped in fireworks. Sometimes it comes through the gentle hands of a stranger who reminds us that healing is possible.

Today, I hope you stay open enough to be surprised.

With joy, love, and hope for all that is today—and all that is still ahead.

XO