昨天我們說我們的天父是「讓人滿有驚喜的神」。我們必須對此作更深入的思考以從中得到更多的啟發。相信看過古老默片的人都看過這麼的一幕──受害人被翹八字鬍子的暴徒綁在鐵路上，然後在火車衝過來以前，就有人把不幸的受害者從似乎是必死無疑的境況中、以最不可思議的辦法救起來。

在你的生命中不是也經常遇上類似的情況嗎？正當你面臨看似巨大的災難時，那位「讓人滿有驚喜的神」將絕望的情況轉化為無比喜樂的機會。就在我們感到世上似乎再沒有人會關心我們，甚至不能度過那關鍵時刻的時候，神就會靠近我們，以祂同在的溫暖圍繞我們，令暫時孤立無援的時段變成意義深刻的經歷。

很多時候我們對神的認識只是理論性──我們在頭腦上認識祂，並不是內心真正的認識。不過，在孤單的深處，這經歷改變了我們，將理論變成現實。有人將孤單定義為「一個認識神的意外機會」，它確實是如此。當除了神以外沒有其他人的時候，那就是我們學習認識神的時刻，而且是真正深入的認識。孤單的經歷確實不容易，但相信我，孤單付出的代價將會得到更有價值的回報。

We referred yesterday to our heavenly Father as "the God of remarkable surprises". We must stay with that thought a little longer and draw from it further inspiration. Who hasn't seen the scenario in the old silent movies in which a victim is tied to a railway track by a handlebar-moustached villain? But the story isn't over: invariably, moments before the train comes thundering around the corner, someone rescues the hapless victim from what looks like certain death - and often in the most surprising manner.

Have you not often found a similar scenario in your own life? Just when it looks as if you are facing what seems like unmitigated disaster, the "God of remarkable surprises" turns a desperate situation into an opportunity for unparalleled joy. How does He do it? Just when we are feeling as if there is no one in the world who cares and that we will not be able to get through the day, He draws close to us and wraps the warmth of His presence around us in a way that makes the experience of temporary isolation worthwhile.

You see, sometimes our knowledge of God is just theoretical - we know Him in our heads, but we don't really know Him in our hearts. In the depths of loneliness, however, this undergoes a deep change - the theory is turned into reality. Someone has defined loneliness as "the surprising opportunity to know God". It is. When there is no one but God - those are the times when we learn to know God - and really know Him. The experience of loneliness is not easy to go through, but believe me, it is worth far more than the cost.