You're not what I expected.....

We all have them... we often rely on them.

Expectations.

We all - ah, even the pure among us - have expectations. We have expectations about others, about vacations, about spouses, about marriages, about confrontations, about parties, about warranties on appliances. We mentally or emotionally invest in a determination or outcome. We believe (or hope or think) that our children will function at a particular level or that the Martha Stewart towels will be colorfast.

We have each have expectations of politicians and the clergy (and I'll let you fill in the blanks for these).

Particularly during the summer months I encourage you to continue to attend church - but not necessarily at your 'home' parish. Attend a different parish - whether in your own town or the hamlet you might be visiting on vacation. You can expect there to be some praying going on and a slightly less predictable preacher or liturgical practice or piece of music may give you a fresh perspective during the summer break.

Sometimes the transcendent God will appear with a backdrop of a double choir and incense; sometimes God will be made known in tearing a slice of Wonder bread under the shade of some trees. In this world that abhors a void, God enters and transforms - often in a way we could never have expected. Thanks be to God!