By definition a journey means to travel from one place to another. In the movie that prompted the title of this blog over two-years ago, the company were traveling from The Shire to the Lonely Mountain. The purpose of their journey was to reclaim what once belonged to the dwarfs. If you know anything at all about the movie, Bilbo—the Hobbit—was their thief, whose job was to recover the sacred Arkenstone from the terrible dragon. The reason the title “unexpected” journey was chosen is, like Bilbo, this journey was not planned—at least not by us—or Bilbo. It was rather unexpected. It came about out of a certain necessity. For the dwarfs they wanted to reclaim their land. For us I wanted my son to have an understanding of passing from childhood into manhood. A prophecy or foretelling had been spoken stating that at a certain time in a certain place with a certain key entrance could be made into the mountain. A series of things had to fall into place in order for this to happen. The opening scenes of the movie explain how those events came together that landed the company of dwarfs at Bilbo’s home in The Shire. This foretelling speaks of a divine purpose. As I look back over the past few years of our lives, I believe that can build a case for the Father bringing certain things into place that positioned us to take this unexpected journey. I believe that this divine purpose was in play as my son and I as we started out on our unexpected journey. I believe the divine purpose for our lives—as well as our movie characters—was and is discovery. Bilbo discovered his courage while my son and I have discovered a companionship. What I find interesting about all of this is the fact that the many unexpected things that have happened along the way both challenged our family as well as placed us in a new position within the kingdom of God. Perhaps this has been the intended destination of the Father all along. If this is true, then it speaks to me about knowledge gained from the journey that may very well assist others who find themselves in the same—but quite different—unexpected journey. As I write this, I have a sense that those who are being positioned by the Lord to take this journey are those who have this inward gnawing that something isn’t right—not that anything is wrong. If that speaks to you, then perhaps you should give the Father permission to take you on an unexpected journey. I must warn you not to offer that permission lightly. On that note, the web site is near completion. I hope to launch it by the end of the month. The reason I say that is that it will offer—I trust—assistance for those who are looking for answers, or who are feeling that “something’s wrong” feeling and wanting to explore what it might be, as well as those who have offered the Father their permission and wonder what to expect—the unexpected I can assure you! I trust an announcement will be made on the next post regarding our family situation; but suffice it say that positive changes are on the way.