(Written in 2005, this message was one I have had to contemplate numerous times. )

Kaboom! Everything changed. Quickly.

In life, especially in the church, we talk about the “suddenlies” or that time where everything changes. When it’s good, we call it a “kairos” moment. When it’s bad…well, it is a tragedy. It is not God’s fault.

In my early life, I did a lot of stupid things. This is one of them.

We had all been partying. Drinking, drugs, the lifestyle of the young and the foolish. My friends, Wales in the driver’s seat of the purple and white truck. Cruising along, with George, a 6’7″ basketball player in the shotgun. 3 of my friends and I riding in the bed of the pickup as the wind blew through our hair. Then, one of them Timmy reached in his pocket and pulled out an M80. He lit the firecracker and reached up to the passenger vent window. George saw the sizzling and went to close the window. The window trapped the firecracker and as George moved towards the driver’s seat, he covered his ears and closed his eyes. Moments later the explosion came, and pieces of safety glass blew by our faces. The truck swerved violently. Wales stopped the truck, screaming “what did you say?” His fingers in his ears, the noise had deafened him. George reached for the shovel in the pickup bed and went after Bobby thinking he had done it. Dave, Timmy and I had already bailed, leaving our 400 pound friend to face George’s wrath. Fortunately, we were able to wrestle the shovel from George’s hands and get him to cool down. How close had we come to death. Only upon reaching heaven’s gates will I know.

As I think about this time, I realize there were many times where God has shown up in a “suddenly” that I was not at all prepared for. Sometimes I reacted like a lot like my friend George. I was angry, frightened at the intrusion into my life, having it my way. My reaction was to strike back, at anyone, even the wrong one. I know now that God didn’t do the harmful things in my life, but did I know it in the beginning? At other times, I reacted like my friend, Wales, wondering “what did he say?” I can’t be hearing this.

And what about the times where goodness showed up, totally removing things in my life, but setting me up for something new? Some of those were equally disconcerting. (Romans 8:28)

Has your life been going along the way you want it to be, when out of the blue, there is something so “loud,” so distracting that you had to hide from it, duck even? Something, so loud you knew it was God but did not know what to do with it?

Perhaps this day God is trying to get your attention. It is His way of interrupting your life as usual. His way of reaching us when we don’t want to be reached. What is it God is wanting to talk to you about his day? I know God can make Himself be heard. He can speak through nature, through people and through our times of solitude. What is it He is wanting to say to you?

Written by Lee Johndrow

Lee is the Senior Leader of Abundant Grace Fellowship Church in Keene, NH

He is the father of five wonderful children. Married for over 26 years to his wife Tina. Loving life with family, friends, faith, fun and food!