Interrupted

Structure is defined as something arranged in a definite pattern or organization. I love structure! It makes me giddy to watch a carefully laid out plan completed from start to finish. Patterns and repetition bring a calmness to my soul. A recently organized space is a breath of fresh air. Everything in my life could be structured, and I would never complain. Life seems seamless and easy for me when daily tasks become repetitive and almost mindless. At times, I become so engrossed in structure that I need a good kick in the rump to remember scripture like Proverbs 25:16, “Have you found honey? Eat only what you need, so that you do not have it in excess and vomit it.” In other words, too much of a good thing is not a good thing.

In the midst of a structural high place last week, life came to a screeching halt. News of a hurricane nearing Florida with a path aimed directly at us brought on a need to prepare. Businesses, schools and churches began making announcements of closures and scheduled cancellations. Plans that took me months and weeks to create were paused. Normal daily activity became non-existent. Ingulfed in a situation that should have spurred love and compassion, I became aggravated.

Instead of placing the final touches on a year-long project like planned, I found myself spontaneously sitting in line for an hour waiting on gas. Instead of my weekly scheduled office time spent moving carefully coordinated tasks to the next stage in the flow chart, I drug myself to the grocery store as early as possible hoping to avoid the crowds. Having just spent hours of my time and a decent chunk of money on pre-making dinners and freezing them to prepare for busy evenings, I was irritated at the possibility of loosing power and all my hard work. Cancelled bible studies and closed businesses left me with nothing to do; I was bored.

Then, like a swift pop in the head, God shined His light on my circumstances and suggested that I embrace the interruption. We struggle for quality family time these days. Why wasn’t I embracing the fact that we were all home? Being honest with myself, I was suppressing mental fatigue that had creeped in weeks ago. Why wasn’t I embracing a time for my mind to rest? Projects around the house were sitting on the backburner. Why wasn’t I embracing extra time to knock them off my to-do list? God was blessing me with rest, and I was being ungrateful.

Not to mention, the hour wait in line for gas created a time to chat and laugh with the attendant outside. The crowds at the grocery store made moving around slow, and gave me time to stand still and meet a stranger. Cancelled bible studies led to text messages and conversations with individuals I hadn’t communicated enough with lately. My structure got interrupted, and it was a good thing.

Jesus lived in interruption. He slept and the apostles interrupted Him to calm a storm (Mat 8:25). He preached and through the roof men interrupted His sermon with a friend needing healing (Mark 2:1-5). A father interrupted His conversation to save a dying daughter (Mat 9:18). While traveling to the daughter, Jesus is interrupted again by a struggling woman who touched His garment to be made whole (Mat 9:20-22). It never ended for Him, and He embraced it. Jesus lived life to be interrupted.

Jesus walked this earth to give us an example of how to live. He prompted Paul to remind us, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Cor 11:1) Jesus welcomed interruptions and responded with nothing but love. We are called to do the same.

Lord, thank you for the interruptions and for showing me how badly I need them. Teach me how to walk fully in the love and patience that only Your Spirit provides. Open my eyes to the moments You give me to be a light. In Jesus’ Name.