You never know what the day may bring…

Good or bad, each day unfolds pretty much to our expectations.

Kids to school.

Dog to vet.

Catch the top news, however it is we do that.

Phone Mom and Dad.

Text that recipe to a friend.

Go to a scheduled meeting.

For the most part, days pass by like that, without surprise, without incident.

The rhythm is so reliable, it leaves little room for the surprises.

But the surprises can force their way in anyway.

You never know what the day may bring.

It’s a simple sentence that doesn’t require a lot of explaining. Even so, we march on, optimistic, not a care in the world.

Oh, sure, we know that our next moment might be ripped from us. But intellectually knowing the possibilities of major disruptions does not adequately prepare us for when they come.

Just read the headlines on a given day, and put yourself in the place of someone who got that bad news.

Here are a couple of examples, occurrences that nearly take your breath away:

—My heart goes out to the family of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, missing from in Tucson, Arizona.

—Also to the family of an 18-year-old Northern Arizona University student who is presumed to have died in a fraternity rush activity.

So, what’s my point?

Well, since there’s no known way of warding off horrific news, I believe I am left with doing a better job of valuing, not only the great days, but also the mindless days when no harm comes to me or mine. Days when I forget something on my grocery list, or have to circle the block several times to get a parking place; or clean up where my dog peed on the kitchen floor because I didn’t get her out in time.

Imperfections, for sure, but not tragic, or life-altering, or even memorable.

So, welcome, ordinary days. I hope to see you for the blessing you are and the treasure you bring to my life.