To a certain degree we are all living in a state of denial. I see it all the time in myself and in the people who come into my life. I can't tell you how many times I have been called to someone's bedside when life has gone off script and been asked "Why is this happening to us?" or "I never expected this." I remember one time I had to have a heart-to-heart talk with a man who was dying of cancer. He was filled with anger and resentment toward God because this was not the way he expected his life to end. I told him in no uncertain terms that this is the way life ends. You get sick and die usually from cancer or heart attack, stroke or some infection. But so often we act surprised when it happens to us or someone close to us, like it was out of the realm of possibility. And so we double our efforts by saying our prayers asking God to protect us and those we love. But what are we asking protection from? Life?

You see, life goes sideways more often than not. It doesn't follow our script. It has a way of throwing us curve balls right when we were expecting the fast ball. Sometimes we are pleasantly surprised and life takes a turn for the better. Sometimes, it takes a turn that makes the ground shift under our feet. Life is shifting sand. It always has been and always will be. It is unpredictable and unwilling to take orders. You don't believe me? Take a look back 20 years ago and ask yourself if you would have ever imagine the course your life has taken? I suspect all of us would say no way. This is not what I expected. And when life comes to a close, we also act stunned and shocked.  In the end, the great theologian Woody Allen is right, "nobody gets out alive."

Well, what do we do as life shifts and undulates right underneath our feet? We have four choices. One we can lull ourselves into a place of denial and pretend everything is "hunky-dory." Second, we can become frightened and deeply insecure about the present and future, and wring our hands trying figure out a way to protect ourselves from life. Third we can become bitter and resentful because life didn't turn out the way we had expected. Finally, we can accept life on life's terms and surrender ourselves to the care of God. We can choose to spend our lives loving and serving him knowing the next life will far exceed our expectations. We can choose to believe the promises of God and live in such a way that we are thankful for the past, optimistic in the present and hopeful for the future. The truth is we don't have it all figured out, but God does. And for those who believe and have surrendered their lives to Him, he will work all things for good.

So, what do you do when life goes sideways? You hang on with your eyes wide open looking for God to show himself. And then we follow him through the thick of it and arrive at the other side changed, strengthened and blessed. It is usually when life goes off script that God has something to show us, so keep your eyes open because He has more for us then we can ask or imagine.