The sign in the vacant shop window announced the “big” news for all to see:

As Kylie and I walked briskly past the sign on our way to the supermarket, I couldn’t help adding sarcastically, "Yes, we need another one of them - like a hole in the head!”

My daughter nodded her agreement and for a moment we chatted about the type of shops that we would have actually considered exciting.  As we thought of all the possibilities, it just made this over abundance of hairdressers seem even more insane.

Now it wasn’t that I had anything against hairdressing salons.  Nothing could have been further from the truth.  It was just the fact that unless we were missing some vital piece of the puzzle, this new salon would bring the number in the complex to three.

This may not sound all that excessive, except for the fact that our local Shopping Centre only has approximately 30 shops in total.  In spite of what the sign proclaimed, it was a little hard to get excited about what seemed to be an oversupply in the hair department.

Thankfully, it turned out that we were indeed missing a piece of the puzzle and it wasn’t all that long before we discovered that it wasn’t actually a new hair salon at all.  Instead, it was simply the relocation of an existing one from their small, external shop, into a much larger, internal position.

It was obviously good news for the owner, but still not really something I’d consider to be all that thrilling in the big scheme of things.  However, once again there was the tantalising mystery of what would move into the now vacated premises.

Our expectation wasn’t all that high, considering the size of the tiny store, but at least we were fairly sure that it wasn’t going to have anything to do with hair!

We were right!

A few weeks passed before another sign was posted in the old, abandoned salon.  Using the same standard “new shop” poster, the Centre Management once again made their announcement for all the community to see:

This time Kylie and I laughed out loud.

“Ooh!"  My daughter’s sarcasm bubbled over as she chuckled.  "I can hardly wait!”

With tongue planted firmly in cheek, I responded in like fashion. “Wow!  This is SO exciting!  I feel tingly all over!”

Still giggling at the thought of what would actually be required to make an Optometrist exciting, we began listing a few other "thrilling" tenant possibilities.  By the time we’d reached the shopping carts at the Supermarket, we’d concluded that only two other professions would have rated lower on the excitement meter!  One would definitely have to be an “Exciting New Dentist”.  The other, and I truly believe outright winner, would unquestionably be an “Exciting New Proctologist”.

Of course these new outlets are, I’m sure, a great delight for the owners and for anyone with an on-going need for their services.  However, if “exciting” were to be used in a word association test, I’m pretty confident that “optometrist” wouldn’t come flashing immediately to mind.  Although after this, it certainly may do!

There are many things that others find exciting, which leave me cold.  In most instances, it probably has a lot more to do with personality and interests than with any accurate measure of true value.  After all, what may be one person’s equivalent to a roller coaster ride, might just as easily be as boring as a long “waiting room” experience to another.

Then there are those things that are quite legitimately thrilling and a guaranteed adrenaline rush to many, yet stir absolutely no sense of eager anticipation within me.  In fact, the thought of such things as bungie jumping, parachuting and hang gliding are far more likely to fill me with absolute dread!

So I guess, when it comes to all things exciting, it really is a matter of perspective.  Or then again, in some cases, maybe it has more to do with priorities.

Over the years I’ve discovered that many of the things I’ve looked forward to with great excitement, have not quite lived up to expectations.  However, there have been some overwhelmingly memorable moments in my life that definitely fit the bill.

For example, the day Steve and I were married certainly makes the list, closely followed by the thrill of moving into our brand new home just a couple of months later.  Then, of course, came the two occasions when we had very “great expectations”, which resulted in the birth of Kylie in 1985 and of Matthew in 1987.

Perhaps the greatest excitement of all, however, came right between those two births.  In fact, it was another birth.  Mine!

The joy, excitement, anticipation, eagerness and zeal that came when I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour, is unparalleled with any other experience in my life - and it continues to this day.

But that’s not all!  There’s more to come!

We don’t know what other heart pounding, joy filled moments are still ahead; although we may try to fill in some of the blanks.  Still, as long as we’re united with Christ and living to serve Him, we can be quite sure that the excitement will most definitely continue right up to the day when we participate in the ultimate experience of all.  The moment of our Saviour’s return.

The Apostle Paul expressed the heart of all expectant believers when he wrote: