EXPECTATIONS

by Tim Knappenberger

"PLAYING GOD. First there was Sim City, then Sim Earth and even Sim Ant: an insect simulator. Why should I balk at Lucasarts' new Afterlife game purporting to simulate death, judgment, and the world beyond? In "Afterlife", You get to play God. Or Godlet. Or something in the form of a "regional spiritual director" who has to manage your own heaven and hell. You have to manage your own eternal real estate by making sure everybody gets what's coming to them.

As bizarre as this game may sound on first blush, it's really nothing new. We've been playing God for eons. Now, however, thanks to Steve Lucas, we can do it in 32-bit graphics. Recently, some friends and I were discussing what lies at the core of many (most?) of our upsets, disappointments and unhappinesses in life. I conjectured that most of our upsets in life seem tied to our penchant for expecting. Whether we're consciously aware of it or not, we're always expecting something from someone or some situation. We expect the car to start each and every morning. We expect Big Macs to be handed out of the McDonald's drive through window; not Whoppers. We expect that 10 ton, 18 wheeler to stop on red so we can go on green. Sociologists call this "framing." It's part of our every day living. "Framing" helps us enter varied and new social situations without having to create a different set of rules each time. "Framing" makes us feel safer and more in control. Imagine every other person in America alternately deciding one day that red means "go" and green means "stop". Chaos and misery would ensue.

Given that at most times, in most situations our daily living expectations are met, it's easy to see how we become duped into thinking that things really SHOULD go the way WE THINK they should go. We make up the rules in our head, assume everyone else is playing by them, and then go ballistic when something goes amiss. Christians are no different when it comes to "framing." Only difference with us is that when our expectations are shattered, we turn to God and wail, "How could YOU have allowed such-and-such to happen?! I thought You loved me??!!"

As humans, we will never be able to avoid looking down the road in anticipation of what's coming. That's the part of us created for eternity. The harm we do ourselves is allowing our expectations to "play god". All to often, our expectations subtly transform themselves into a fait accompli'. If I'm fair to those I supervise, they'll be loyal to me. If I serve faithfully in my church, my efforts will one day be recognized. If I sacrifice for my offspring, they'll love and appreciate "the ole' man." Wrong! Hopefully, yes; but certainly not for certain.

It's important to first recognize that we have these scripts that we carry around in our heads and subconsciously repeat to ourselves a couple thousands times each day. After recognizing them, we may need to question and challenge some of the premises upon which they are built. Lastly, we need to acknowledge that our God is a God of the unexpected. Throughout scripture He waits until Man has Him or Life all figured out, then He pulls an unexpected Red Sea parting, or a Goliath butt-kicking, or an early morning resurrecting, or a cloud-parting Second Coming.

James 4:13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

With God, expect the unexpected!

I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.

Jeremiah 10:23

Please drop Tim a line at   knapp@raex.com