Interruptions
“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” – Psalm 5:3
Dear Friends,
My day didn’t begin the way I expected. How about yours?
In fact, I’ve had 4 different interruptions already, and I’m anticipating another – and it isn’t even noon!
But those interruptions…
Just today I read this quote by the late author, professor and leader of L’Arche community for people with intellectual disabilities, Henri Nouwen – “I have always been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted; then I realized that the interruptions were my work.”
And I had to re-think my morning. I was able to have a hear-to-heart with one of my kids, who listened. I was able to have a hear-to-heart with a church member, who shared. I was able to take a step forward in a project that I wasn’t sure about.
My interruptions today, in retrospect, have been holy moments of God at work in my life and in the life of others. None of them were expected, and yes, each of them came at the cost of time that could have been spent in other ways… but as I think about it, the time spent on these interruptions proved much more valuable than however I would have spent them before. In fact, I can’t honestly say that anything didn’t get done so far this morning because of them.
And because of my interruptions, I was even able to spent a few minutes unexpected moments with Bridgette – interrupting her – but also getting a hug in the process (definitely one of my love languages!), and bringing a smile to her face as well!
When I’m open to God, to God’s gentle nudges and whispers, that often come in disruptions and distractions of other people, I’m much more able to receive them as gifts, and to reciprocate. When my heart and mind and plans are so closed off that I don’t accept these disruptions… I think I’m worse for it.
No, I’m not going to sit back and do absolutely nothing, just waiting around for people to interrupt my silence on the top of some hill somewhere. I’m going to keep working and making plans… but I’m also going to work on being open and expectant to the interruptions that make my day, and my life, something worth living. And I invite you to open yourself up to the little nudges of God’s interruptions in your life and see how God might grow you and bless others at the same time!
Welcoming You to Grow in Jesus, one interruption at a time,
Pastor Don