Interruptions or Opportunities?
I am a person who always has a plan. Recently, I took my boys to the State Fair and I spent the night before happily pouring over the map and the schedule, buying tickets for the train, and getting everything in order so we could have a wonderful day together – our first Fair Day in four years!
Well, things did not go to plan. My boys are older now and one of them didn’t want to pet the animals. We made our way over to the pig races to discover that the event that was so fun four years ago, when it was inside with plenty of seating, but this year it was outside in a tiny venue with hardly any seating at all. So we split.
Nothing was going to plan and I was getting frustrated. Until I started listening and softening – I realized that my boys wanted to paddle around the pond in a swan boat. And they wanted to ride the sky way tram over the park. And they would go along with my desire to eat a Fletcher’s corny dog, even though they aren’t their favorite (which meant a few more bites for me)!
Beloved, I’m guessing many of us approach our days with a plan or at least an expectation of how the time will go. But what I’ve had to learn, over and over again, is that there are opportunities in the interruptions. When I let go of holding on to control so tightly, I’m able to be present in the moment I’m in, whether it’s the bedside of the dying, our time together in worship, or even the State Fair of Texas.
Have you been interrupted lately? How did you receive that opportunity?
I’m praying for you. I hope you’re praying for me. I look forward to worshiping with you on Sunday!
peace,
Jessica.