Interruptions...

   

      I don't know about you, but I am not always good at interruptions.  It is ironic that I am not, because my life consists of interruption after interruption.  Rarely do I complete one single thought-in its entirety-that I am not interrupted. (What does that do to a person's brain over long periods of time?)  I am even noting: I interrupt myself.  Homeschooling 4 children, one high schooler, one middle schooler,  a fourth grader and one kindergartener is not a neat and tidy job.  Even as hard as I have tried, through the years, I can not make it fit into a neat box that has everyone doing a particular thing during an exact time and changing when the bell rings.  I gave up trying years ago.  The Kindergartener is distracted.. gotta get her back on track.  The 4th grader needs me to administer a spelling test.  The 8th grader is trying to complete his pre-Algebra but is stumped on a problem and the high schooler is waiting to discuss geometry.  Traffic congestion happens on the road and sometimes school congestion happens in our home, these are the problems that can arise in a typical day.  But the interruptions I am talking about today are those things that pop up out of the blue.  These interruptions are life jolts that you did not anticipate.

   

     One time I was on this path (in the photo) one evening at Lake Junaluska,  North Carolina.  I was super sad because my granddaddy had died recently.  I was walking and thinking, beside the lake.  I only saw one other person out at that time that night.  I saw him across the lake as he jogged around.  He was an older man and was trying to get his run in before it was totally dark.  I had seen him a long time before he got to me.  It wasn't a short run.  It was such a God moment.  Although there was nothing about my demeanor that would have given my attitude away...he stopped for me.  I even remember smiling at him and saying hello as he passed in front of me.  But he wasn't fooled.  He still stopped.  He didn't stay long, in fact it probably was just a few moments.  But he told me that life wasn't that bad.  He didn't use deep theological jargon.  What he said was a very simple-which was perfect for my high school brain.  But his words jarred me out of that sadness and shined light into my heart.

     The Bible is also full of interruptions...Moses did not anticipate the burning bush.  Gideon was trying to hide and thresh some grain when the angel showed up to him.  Noah "build a boat!" Totally unexpected to say the least.  Joshua was nearly knocked off his feet when God interrupted his nice, neat, large army and totally changed the plans.  David was just taking care of the sheep and his entire life was thrown upside down with one interruption from Samuel.

     And then there is Jesus.  His entire life was one huge interruption.  Even His arrival was not expected.  All the people expected a powerful King of great wealth and influence.  An innocent, vulnerable baby...NEVER.  Totally off the radar.  He didn't come to fit nicely into the plans of humans, He came to settle a score.  

     One of my favorite interruptions of all was the one where "there were shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night."  It is just another night.  It was dark except for maybe a campfire.  They may have been eating or dozing.  Maybe they were telling stories or singing songs.  But what happened in that field that night was one of world's BIGGEST interruptions.  "An angel of the Lord appeared among them and the glory of the Lord shown around them." It had been over 500 years since God's presence left the temple, the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies, and now it appeared to some nobodies out in a field.  The last time someone had been in the vicinity of the Holy Spirit they had a rope tied around their leg so that if they died in the presence of the Lord they could be pulled out by their leg.  Who would have ever expected the glory of the Lord to show up in this way.

     Jesus continued interrupting people for the rest of his time on earth.  His water-to-wine miracle was a welcomed interruption.  He busted up a fishing trip to call James and John.  He stormed into the temple and interrupted the people who were ripping off his children and misrepresenting Him.  He interrupted funerals and raised the dead.  He walking unexpectedly to the Pool of Bethesda and started healing people.  Even his death was an interruption.  The disciples anticipated Him taking the throne and setting the Jewish people free from the Roman rule.  What they did not anticipate was that He had is eye on The Throne where he would sit at the right hand of God the Father and that his position there could not only set the Jewish people free but ALL the people in the entire world who come to believe.  

    Jesus understood interruptions.  He actually welcomed them. When the little children wanted to come to Him, He stopped what He was doing and called them to Himself.  When the lame man was lowered through the ceiling (talk about breaking line) Jesus didn't lecture him about waiting his turn.  He welcomed the interruption.  When he was talking and eating at a meal Mary interrupted, wanting to wash his feet with her expensive perfume.  He praised her interruption. People would yell at him while he was walking down the road and He would stop.  He was mourning the loss of his cousin, John the Baptist, and the people were interrupting.  For pete's sake He could not get anything done without an interruption.  I bet I am not the only one who is interrupted while going to the bathroom...I BET HE WAS INTERRUPTED TOO.  If they had doors I bet fingers would have been coming under the door while he was trying to go.  

     So how did He do it?  He was full of compassion for people and their needs.  He was here to change lives and not to complete an agenda.  He saw the bigger picture and was about greater good.  And He was the expert on loving the one in front of Him, even if they dropped in through the roof in the middle of a lesson.   Maybe He wanted you and me to see that even in His hardest times He was willing to love people and welcome their interruptions because He came to represent His Father who is full of love for us.  And He didn't just welcome interruptions while he was on earth He still does it today.  He sits beside the Father now,  as our advocate.  When we need Him, He is "ever ready to make intercession on our behalf."   

     I am really nervous now!  I have Christmas shopping to do and food to bake.  I have plans and appointments.  Am I willing?  Do I trust Him enough to be open to interruptions?  Ok, that is not the right question at all.  Maybe the right question is this: Does God trust me enough to place interruptions in front of me?  Does He think I am the perfect person to represent Him in this hurting world? I am feeling braver...if He trusts me enough to represent Him (He calls me an ambassador) then surely I am prepared and equipped for whatever He may place in my way! And congratulations friend, you are too!  These interruptions may end up being the greatest thing that ever happened in the lives of the ones we meet.  And we may be surprised to find they are some of the best things that happen to us as well.