There is a sort of constancy in our environment. Even though the world is in constant motion--things changing from moment to moment, we still expect certain things, and our experiences are generally set according to those expectations. What happens when those "normal" expectations exceed beyond the measure of the usual tendency?
Exceed originates from the Latin, excedere, meaning to go beyond. It stems from the 14th century Latin root, cedere to go.
To exceed is to surpass, to excel, to go beyond the bounds or limit.
A simple example would be the rare times we exceed the speed limit. If we go beyond the posted speed we could expect consequences.
Another example that came to mind was something that the Lions seem to consistently NOT do - make first downs. Why isn't a 3rd down, pass play, designed to exceed the first down marker? Isn't the play called to meet the minimal expectation of a first down? Why not call a play that exceeds the expectation of making the yardage?
Many times we just expect the usual and we tell ourselves it's good enough. Or maybe, like in football, you hope for circumstances (like YAC) to play a part in meeting expectations. Why not, from the beginning, plan to exceed the boundary--- go beyond the limiting nature of normal, and find settling for the ordinary unacceptable?
There is a profound essence of beauty when expectations of a moment are exceeded. When you just expect the expected day in, and day out, the door is closed to the potential of awe and wonder of the unexpected. Or, when you shut your heart and mind off to the point of numbness --a potential experience that exceeds expectation will be missed.
When was the last time you were moved and touched with such emotion that it stirred your heart and mind to tears? Maybe this is why we cry. When a character in a movie dies, or when a special word of kindness or tenderness renders an open door for tears, we then know that particular experience was not what was expected... it went beyond, it exceeded what we expected.
The experience of embracing beauty, sadness, and hurt is expected to be a certain way, or so we think. However, there are times when a moment can far exceed and surpass the normal or ordinary. That's when we laugh harder, delight deeper, and cry longer.
We have a set of expectations, but we need to be open and motivated to the possibilities that expectations could exceed the lines of normalcy. We need to be willing to allow moments, when our heart is moved, to grab us and even take our breath away...and with tears of unexpected joy, look beyond.