A Year of Sundays: The Eighteenth Sunday (5/4/25) – Embracing the Unexpected

The unexpected happens—is a good way to gear up for an eventful life. This week was one of those weeks, and I’m happy to say that my affirmations, meditations, and commitment to living mindfully were steady companions as the unpredictable unfolded.

As I reflected on this, I found comfort in the words of Thomas Moore, who wrote in Care of the Soul, “Care of the soul is not solving problems. It is an appreciation of the process of life as an unfolding mystery” (Moore, 1992, p. 25). His words remind me that while we can’t anticipate every twist and turn, we can choose how we engage with them. We can either resist the unexpected or meet it with a grounded, open heart.

I am realizing more and more that I cannot plan for every unanticipated moment, but staying firmly planted, grounded, and connected to my inner stillness serves me well. This week, I chose to stand firm in my practices, to breathe deeply, and to find the calm within myself, even as the world around me shifted. Rather than rushing to fix or control every disruption, I leaned into my grounding rituals and chose to live in the unfolding, to be a witness to the mystery of life rather than a frantic problem-solver.

Here’s to welcoming the unexpected, to staying grounded, and to appreciating the mystery as it reveals itself.

Reflection Prompt: How can I remain grounded and open to life’s surprises this week, without rushing to solve every unexpected challenge?

Reference

Moore, T. (1992). Care of the soul: A guide for cultivating depth and sacredness in everyday life. HarperCollins.