Interruptions

Raise your hand if you like to be interrupted? Especially when you are busy doing an important task? Especially when you have already planned out your day and something unexpected comes up that you must tend to? Or maybe it's something even more long term. You had your entire life mapped out and then life happens.

Yeah, I don't know anyone who really "welcomes" interruptions. I certainly don't! I constantly am interrupted at work when I'm trying to document notes and someone comes to chat about something completely random for like an hour! It can really get frustrating.

But what if we began to take a different look at what are so-called interruptions?

But (and you probably know where I'm going with this) what if some of these things we call "interruptions" are not so bad? What if they are meant to teach us something? Like maybe we need to stop procrastinating, or what we really think is so important is not what God wants us to be focusing on at that particular time, or the other person's need is greater than our own...

I like how writer Annie Keary put it, "I think I find most help in trying to look on all interruptions and hindrances to work that one has planned out for oneself as discipline, trials sent by God to help one against getting selfish over one's work...After such as hindrance, do not rush after the planned work; trust that the time to finish it will be given sometime, and keep a quiet hear about it." (Emphasis mine).

Hmmm...divine interruptions? Think about the conversion of Paul, formerly known as Saul. He was a huge if not the hugest persecutor of Christians in the early church age. Matter of fact in Acts chapter 9 he was on his way to Damascus continuing down his persecution road when he had the biggest interruption of his life. Jesus! He had a life-changing encounter with the Savior that changed his entire course and he became a follower of Christ and even wrote a good portion of the New Testament. Talk about an interruption!

So maybe interruptions aren't so bad after all! Maybe they can open up doors to something even greater. Even if it's something small like taking a break from writing a paper and listening to a friend in need, that is a great blessing to that person and God loves it too! Or visiting an elderly relative or friend who wants company when we have a full schedule planned. It matters to that person and it matters to God.

Interruptions, bring 'em on!