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Interruptions can overload our lives. We can ignore them,
become anxious about them, or … look at them as opportunities. Which will it
be?
ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES
by Sally Bair
Interruptions
Recently someone asked me if I’m becoming more impatient as
I grow older. I said that, on the contrary, I seem to show more patience than
ever before. Rethinking my answer, I must add an exception. I show less
patience when interrupted by someone or something, perhaps realizing I must
make the most of the time I have left.
Interruptions can distract us. As a young mother, I often
told my kids, “Don’t interrupt me now.” Even today, I feel stressed when the
phone rings during a crucial part of my editing. Sometimes I cringe, frustrated
when someone interrupts me while I’m trying to say something.
Can you relate? Or are you like some who let interruptions
wash over them like warm water and keep on smiling? Oh, to be like such
super-humans!
“Interruptions never distracted Jesus,” quoted G.H.Morling
in Quest for Serenity. “He accepted
them as opportunities of a richer service. Interruptions were the occasion of
some of His most gracious deeds and revealing words.”
There are many instances from the Gospels that prove
Morling’s words. Jesus beckoned little children rather than turn them away as
His disciples thought He should. He took time to heal Peter’s mother-in-law
while at Peter’s house for dinner. He repeatedly stopped preaching and teaching
to heal someone in need or to minister to them in other ways. He delayed His
trip to bring a government ruler’s daughter back to life so He could heal a
desperate, sick woman. He even took time out of worship in a synogogue to heal
a man’s withered hand. And when His disciples wanted to send a multitude of
people home, He instead fed them with a mere five loaves of bread and two fish.
How can we use interruptions as Jesus did—opportunities to
serve others? Jesus’ actions are the best example we have. He spent much time
in prayer and worship with His Father away from the crowds, a time of
refreshing for His soul, strengthening of His resolve, and listening to His
counsel.
Not much is said about Jesus’ time spent with His Father.
But sprinkled throughout the Gospel accounts are words such as these: “He went
up on the mountain by Himself to pray.” Notice that He went to a quiet place
alone. When we spend time alone in a quiet place with the Lord, He refreshes
our soul, too. He strengthens our resolve to rightly and lovingly deal with
interruptions. And we can more easily hear His voice for direction in our life.
Lord, help us use
interruptions as opportunities to serve others in love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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