What do you do when something hits you out of left field?
What do you do in the times that something happens that seems to turn the way you think upside down?
The Sayings of the Desert Fathers are terrific for examples of these times. Take this story, for instance:
“Some brothers came to Antony [of Egypt] to tell him their dreams and find out whether they were true or whether they were illusions of the demons. They had set out with a donkey which had died on the journey. When they reached Antony, before they told him anything, he said, ‘Why did your donkey die on the journey?’ They said, ‘How did you know that, Abba?’ He said, ‘The demons showed it to me.’ They said to him, ‘That is just what we have come to consult you about. We too have dreams which have often come true; and we do not want to be misled about this.’ Antony had answered them by taking his example from the donkey, showing them that such dreams are caused by demons.”
Hmm…wait…what?
I’m sorry, but I would really hope that anyone would be at a loss for words when someone says “The demons showed it to me”!!!
My point is there are times when something totally unexpected happens to us…we don’t even know if it’s bad or good…
Perhaps, it is helpful to know that others have experienced “left field” moments, but it still will likely take some time to ponder the implications…
What about you? Ever been hit by something out of left field? Care to share what you did in response [in the comments]?