Interrupt: to cause or make a break in the continuity or uniformity of
a course, process, condition, etc.
That is the given definition of interrupt according to dictionary.com. Today at church I was challenged. The message was about interruptions. I’ll be honest. Most of the time I do not like to be interrupted, but this is especially true when I am in a hurry. In those moments, I tend to neglect the opportunities (divine appointments) that are right in front of me. You see, hurry hates interruptions.
This past summer I was telling my bible study group in Oklahoma about my upcoming move to Georgia. Immediately, my friend Jody chimed in and invited me to spend Thanksgiving with his family in Alabama. In this moment, he gave me permission to interrupt his families “normal.” Talk about a true friend. He knew I would be in a new place, far from my family and friends, and wanted to make sure I would not be spending the holiday alone. Last weekend when I walked in the door, his family took me in as one of their own and showed me the love of Christ.
You’d think I would have learned something from this experience. But on my drive home from Alabama I noticed a car on the side of the road and did nothing. For a second I thought about stopping, but quickly rationalized why I needed to get home. I had to do laundry, homework, rest, etc. and the weekend was almost over. I didn’t want to be interrupted. I was in a hurry. A few minutes later I passed a second car. Then a few minutes later a third car. Each time I would make excuses.
“Someone else will stop.”
“I bet a cop will eventually come.”
“What if the person is using the bathroom?”
In church today, the pastor pointed out that 19 of the 21 miracles found in the book of Matthew happened during an interruption. Really? In chapter 8 Jesus finishes teaching about the beatitudes and comes down off the mountainside where He is interrupted by a man with leprosy. And Jesus heals him. On the way to Peter’s house, Jesus was interrupted again. This time it was a centurion who asks Jesus to heal his servant. And Jesus heals the servant. Do you see where this is going? Time and time again, miracles happened because Jesus saw each interruption as an opportunity to show God’s love to the hurting.
After the sermon, I had to process the message. I realized my mindset and attitude must change. I should view these interruptions as God appointed opportunities to show others the love of Christ. You see, when God begins to work in our lives it is often disguised as an interruption. I thought to myself… that is so true! My entire life story is about interruptions.
So today I was challenged. I realized how important it is to embrace these interruptions in my life. I cannot love in a hurry. I cannot listen in a hurry. These moments are never going to be easy or convenient, but that’s the point. The best things in life don’t come easy. Love. Friendships.
So the next time you are in a hurry and someone interrupts what you are doing… what will you do? What lens will you use? Will you see things negatively and become frustrated? Or will you view that moment as an opportunity to show someone the love of Christ that is in YOU?
