Surprises are one of God’s delights for humankind. Throughout scripture we find that, when the People of Israel and the followers of Christ least expected something, God’s delight presented an opportunity to which they needed to respond. I imagine that it was no real surprise for Joseph and Mary to find no room for them to stay and birth their child. Yet where they end their journey must have taken them by surprise. Not just the accommodations but the rough, tough, rude shepherds suddenly appearing at the stable door. They told stories of lights and voices from the sky that announced a...