The wake-up call was a national surprise. Millions were caught off guard when the Norwegian committee of five announced a single 2009 Nobel Peace Prize winner. Our president was surprised, too, awakened to learn it was he.

Media fussing erupted with praise and consternation.

“You've got to be kidding,” some said. Others saw clarity in the choice as a message for diplomatic talking over saber rattling, a predilection for peace over preemptive war. Surprise!

Faithful people find God's message often surprising. Christian scriptures make hardly believable claims: Love your enemies. Turn the other cheek. Pray privately. Rich people have a hard time experiencing heaven; they already have their reward. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. The meek shall inherit the Earth. Become like a child again; the realm of God belongs to them.

That is not the agenda of corporations or the typical message of televangelists and media talkers. It's the agenda of Christian authenticity. It's unconventional. It recognizes that living into the future can be an experience of love, grace and peace when surprising actions are taken.

When the Obama family visited the Jefferson Memorial recently, the first sitting president to do so since Franklin D. Roosevelt, our president looked up to the engraved walls and read words Thomas Jefferson wrote to George Washington on Jan. 4, 1786: “Laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.”

The progress of humanity is filled with surprises. The eternal source of our faith provides our means to make the best of what could be worse. Within our hearts, minds, souls and strength is the ability to turn consciousness to good. Some do. Some don't. For those who decide to embrace goodness, life surprises make more sense. Living them brings purpose and satisfaction.

That's probably why Jefferson also wrote: “It is in our lives and not our words that our religion must be read.”

The Rev. Kevin A. Johnson is pastor of Bloom in the Desert Ministries United Church of Christ and Reconciling Methodist congregation.