I sat at my desk focusing on a project or at least trying to do so. I had been interrupted more than once and then the phone rang again. Ugh! I thought I would ignore it, but by then the interruption was a reality so I took the call.
Interruptions.
They cut into our time and intrude on our plans, our project, and our rest. Interruptions hit the pause button, if not the stop button, of that thing we want to do. If we are working on a task that we do not like, for the moment the interruption might be welcome, but most of the time we chafe at an interruption. It slows us down from doing what we want to do. It stops us from moving forward. It reminds us that we are not the center of the universe and not in control.
Interruptions come at us from all directions. They are a normal part of living.
Jesus was often interrupted when He walked the earth. The woman with the hemorrhage touched him as He was walking, on His way to something else He planned to do. Children interrupted Him in the midst of teaching adults. What was His response? Did He see interruptions as a frustration or an opportunity?
What can we learn from that? What can I learn from it? 
The man on the phone identified himself by a name that jarred me into alertness. The name was that of an author whose book had greatly impacted me thirty years ago. In a split second my mind was whirling trying to sort out if this was the same person. The man went on to state he had called me because he noticed I shopped online often for his father’s book. He quickly went on to tell me his middle name, which differed from his father’s.
He explained that his father had died and he had some copies of unsold books so requests routinely came to him. He was curious. What caused the interest in the book after so many years? How had his father impacted someone that now looked for more copies?
Our conversation lasted for nearly fifteen minutes. I shared about its impact on me and said I used the books with others I counseled. He said he was coming to my area in a few weeks and wondered if he could stop by my office. We hung up and I leaned back in my chair reflecting.
The call had interrupted things I needed to get finished that day, but if I had not taken it I would have missed meeting the author’s son, which blessed me. I would also have missed being a blessing to the author’s son as I told him about the impact of his father’s work.
As I reflected on the call, I felt challenged to consider what the Lord might want to show me through the many interruptions I experience every day. Not all interruptions seem like opportunities or blessings. Perhaps before I chafe at an interruption I need to pause and consider what the interruption is about, whether the Lord is in it, whether it is an opportunity. What can I learn from it?
What do you do with interruptions?
Pam- wow so exciting to get a phone call like that! Interruptions seems to come with the territory and my line of work, but I do love the CS Lewis quote you used at the end to get us all thinking about interruptions differently.
So sorry for the lateness in stopping by I was speaking at a retreat this past weekend and I am just now working on getting to my comments from last weeks #TuneInThursday Thank you so much for linking up each week.
It truly was, Debbie! No worries about the lateness. Have a great week!!
Hi Pam! I really loved this post and the story of a blessed interruption! Jesus seemed to do some of his most important ‘work’-ministry in the interruptions. Oh, to be more interruptible! Blessings to you!
Thanks so much, Sandra!
So true! I love the quote by C.S Lewis! I want to start seeing the interruptions in life as great opportunities for God to teach me something about His character!
Thanks, Christin! Me too!!
Interruptions have been the story of my life this month. God has used them to bond our family in a new way and shift my perspective, so for those things I’m grateful. Thanks for linking up at #PorchStories.
I think we have some seasons where they seem to abound. Thanks for your encouragement and offering the linkup!
This is such a great reminder to look at our interruptions as opportunities rather than inconveniences. Thank you!
That must have been an exciting call for you! When I see the word interruptions, I am reminded of a Jonah study I did years ago titled Navigating a Life Interrupted. God can sure jar us to pay attention and get us back on the right path with interruptions, can’t He? Thankfully I have not had to be swallowed by a whale yet! 🙂
It really was!! I bet that was a great study given what I know about Jonah! He shows us a great example of how he felt about a change in plans. I have not been swallowed by a whale yet either, but prayerfully it isn’t because Ohio is landlocked!!!
Thank you for attending the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty. I shared your post on Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, and Twitter.
Thanks so much!
My kids interrupt me all day long and it sometimes irks me to no end. God has been dealing with my response to it for weeks now. (I guess I’m a slow learner?) Anyway, I’ve got a post coming up about it next month. We must be on the same page. 😉 #TuneInThursday
I hear you and recall those days when our children were young and still living at home. Maybe we are on the same page indeed, or for certain the Lord has a theme He is trying to reach many of us to hear.
I try to remind myself that people are more important than projects, but it’s not always easy. I also “unplug” and designate personal “office hours” where everyone in my life knows I am unavailable. It’s not a perfect system, and I still need to be flexible. But it has helped.
Sounds like you have some good plans to try to help with boundaries. Being productive can be at odds with people who may need or want a few minutes of our time. I know that well, but I try to look at how Jesus would have responded when I start to chafe about it.