BY DR. GLENN MOLLETTE
Surprises can be deadly.
A devastating flood recently hit Nepal and China. A glacier collapse caused a massive flood that killed over 1,300 people and left more than 5,000 missing. The flood destroyed entire communities, including the border crossing between Nepal and China and caused over $2.56 billion in damages. Rescue efforts are still underway, but the search area is divided into seven zones, with three remaining to be searched.
A devastating flood hit the Grand Canyon on Aug. 29, killing two people and leaving one missing. Heavy rainfall and compound climate extremes caused the flood that swept through Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area. It destroyed footbridges, trails and utilities, and damaged the Trans Canyon waterline, causing stage 4 water restrictions. The South Rim of the park is still open, but water access is limited.
In July, 2025, a horrific Texas flood occurred. Heavy rainfall and a flash flood warning that came too late swept through a campsite in Texas, killing at least 120 people, with 160 still missing. The campsite Camp Mystic lost 27 campers and counselors.
Hurricane Katrina was a category 3 storm that made landfall off the Louisiana coast on Aug. 29, 2005, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 120 miles per hour. An estimated 1,200 people died as a direct result of the storm, which also cost an estimated $108 billion in property damage, making it the costliest hurricane on record.
These events were surprising and deadly. Who could have imagined such tragedies? These people were shockingly surprised. Surprises can happen to any of us at any time. It’s almost impossible to always be on guard. We can travel and live with a cautious attitude, but weather conditions can change rapidly.
Events can happen in our daily travel routine whether we are driving, flying or just going to the office. Such was the day of Sept. 11, 2001. Hundreds of people booked airplane tickets for a routine day of travel that became their last. People in the World Trade Towers had reported in to carry out their daily work assignments, but it would be their last day of life. Officials at the Pentagon had shown up for a routine day of service.
Terrorist hijackers of four planes successfully carried out their surprise mission of death to over 3000 people. Their planning to hijack our planes and carry out their mission was successful.
Most of us remember where we were that day and the terror we felt.
Just last week a demented woman with a knife took the life of another woman in Times Square in New York City. The demented woman was shot by police and killed, but her surprise attack injured one woman while killing another.
So often, it is the surprises that we can’t handle. A intoxicated motorist. The surprise medical report. A financial surprise that drains us and many more.
Typically, if we know, we can handle the situation. We can move to higher ground or take shelter. We can try to avoid bad people if we know where they are and what they are up to. And we can seek medical care if we have advanced information. What brings us the most grief is the surprise.
May we all remember the families impacted by these deadly events. May we be very aware that we are not immune to such events and live our lives prayerfully and as intuitively as possible.
Dr. Glenn Mollette is the author of 15 books. He graduated from Georgetown College, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, and Lexington Theological Seminary, Lexington, Kentucky, and founded Newburgh Theological Seminary, Newburgh, Indiana. His column appears in over 600 media outlets nationwide.