Interruptions

Most of us don't like interruptions, especially when we're preoccupied with an important task or facing a deadline. We are busy folks -- sometimes even when we're relaxing!

When we read the stories of Jesus in the Gospels, one thing that strikes us is how frequently he dealt with interruptions. It's hard to imagine anyone who could be any busier than Jesus was in his brief ministry: traveling from place to place, healing the sick, teaching the disciples. But over and over, people stopped him when he was on his way somewhere else. Going to the home of a young girl who was ill, he was interrupted by the woman who reached out to touch the hem of his garment. On his way into a village, a man with leprosy boldly called out to him. Spending quiet time in a friend's home, invariably the word would circulate that Jesus was there, and crowds would gather, needing his attention. These occasions, apparently, did not stress him out. Instead, the encounters took on the character of a "divine appointment." His compassion and care overcame the business at hand as he looked into the hearts of those who needed him.

Are we too busy to notice that some of the interruptions that come our way are also divine appointments? A friend of mine begins each day with this prayer: 'O Lord, lead me today to the people you want me to meet.' With that prayer in mind, there are no real interruptions. Instead,they may be opportunities to share the grace of God we are experiencing.