Interruptions

Interruptions.

I've never looked at them as a positive thing.

Have you?

Someone showed up at our door.

In the evening.

Without calling first.

I'm in my baggy, comfortable, flannel pajamas.

Never mind it's only seven o'clock.

It's been one of those days.

Scott & I had just settled in with a movie.

And plate of fresh avocados & salsa.

(with blue corn chips on the side.)

And.... the door bell rings.

Dang!

Who the heck?

Interruption.

My youngest.

Deciding at the end of her sophomore year at AU.

To move home.

And finish at Lander.

Scott & I were two years into our empty nest.

Well

adjusted.

In our empty nest.

Happy.

Really happy.

In our empty nest.

And our 20 year old moves back home again.

Of course we were supportive.

But it was.

An unexpected development.

A change of plans.

She wasn't an interruption.

But our empty nest?  

Yep.  

It was most definitely  interrupted.





Let's go back a ways.

That time in 2013.

Three days before my flight left for Kenya.

Just about everything is done.

Three days out.

Bag packed.

Malaria pills.    Passport.    Stash of dark chocolate.    

Everything was ready.

And then.

Terrorists attacked a mall in Nairobi.

Kenya is rocked by the tragedy.

As is our team.

The trip

is understandably

postponed.

It's a no-go.

Plans change.

Last minute.

Redirection.



Sometimes plans change in small ways.

Sometimes in big.

So came cancer.

Not what I expected.

Definitely not in my plan.

Tumor.

Surgery.

Oncologists.

Scans.

Life changed overnight.

Interruption.

Life happens.

Things change.

But how do I usually react

When interruptions

come?



Last week I read an interesting question.


How do I see people  or circumstances.

That interrupt my schedule?

That interrupt my plans?

Do I see the interruption as an aggravation?

Or an obstacle?

Or does it ever dawn on me.

That God may be up to something?

That He may be at work in my life?

Or someone else's life?




" On days when things go smoothly,
   according to

   your
   plans,

   you may be unaware of My Sovereign Presence.

   On days when your plans are thwarted,

    Be

    on

    the

    lookout

    for 

    Me.

    I may be doing something important in your life,
     something quite different than you expected." *





I'm beginning to see it's true.



The unexpected visitor at my door?

He drove all the way to Due West.

To ask us for the last spot on our Kenya team.

This trip will have a lasting impact on his life.

I know it will.

It was interruption to my quiet evening on the couch.

But God was doing something much more important in this man's life.




And my youngest moving home?

A change in college resulted in a change of majors.

She found her passion in another field -- art.

And unique job opportunities came her way.

Pursuing something she truly loves.

An interruption to our happy empty nest.

Took her life on a different path.

Again.

God was doing something much more important.

My mission trip postponed three days before departure?

It was a devastating tragedy for Kenya.

And many lives were changed that day.

Our mission trip was rescheduled for a few months later.

My original team.

Combined with a second team at my church.

And one of my new teammates.

Has become.

(Along with her husband and children)

Some of our closest friends.

Plans changed during a tragedy.

But God was working in that loss for good.

Cancer?

It changed the direction of my life.

Completely.

I'm a better person for walking through that experience.

Not what I would ever have chosen.

Clearly an interruption to my life.

But God was doing something much more important.

In me.




"On days when your plans are thwarted,

  be

  on

  the

  lookout

  for

  Me.

I may be doing something important in your life.

Something

quite

different

than

you

expected."*



So, I'm on the lookout.

For interruptions.  

And before I get stressed or annoyed when they come.

I'll try to step back.

Take a breath.

And consider something more important might be in the works.






* Sarah Young "Jesus Calling"

Well Placed

From time to time.

I grumble about where I've been placed.

Placed in the sense of where I'm placed to do life.

And where I'm placed to serve.

I'm sure.

You would never do that.

But from time to time.

I grow dissatisfied.

And I consider.

Surely a different place would be easier.

Surely God didn't intend for me to have this place.




Responsibility is a big part.

Of where I've been placed.

And not just in my job.

In several areas of my life.

So.

I imagine sometimes.

What it would be like.

To be placed in life.

With less responsibility.

Or maybe none at all.

A place with more solitude.

Less conflict and demands.

And definitely more peace.

Yeah.

My life would be better.

If I were placed in a place like that.

I wonder what it would be like.

If I worked in my studio all day?

With quiet music and time to create.

Or maybe if I were a gardener at Brookgreen Gardens?

I'd be good with walking the beach every day.

Watching for wayward starfish.

So I could return them back to the ocean.

Maybe I could do animal rescue?

I've had some practice with that.

Or how about just cutting grass with a great lawn mower?

Those are the places I sometimes consider.

Well placed places for me.



This week.

I've been reading out of the book of Luke.

Jesus telling the parable about the four soils.

About what happens to the seeds.

That fall on the footpath.

The rocks.

Among the thorns.

And the fertile soil.

The study notes for this passage struck me.

"In order to be helpful, we need to be well-placed."

"Seek opportunities where you have been placed."




Where.

I.

have.

been.

placed.



When I look at my life that way.

I can see.

That solitary places.

Places of tranquility and peace.

Would not be very useful to Jesus.

And in all honesty.

Not where I'm best suited to be.

He can use me in other places.

Out in the world.

Where life can be difficult.

And hard.

And challenging.

Where people are hurting.

And need encouragement.



Ultimately.

Well placed.

Is where people can catch a glimpse of Him.

Through me.

Where they see love and understanding.

He gives me that chance.

To reflect Him in my place of responsibility.





It's clear.

The time I spend wishing for different circumstances.

Wishing for less responsibility.

Feeling dissatisfied.

Is time.

Wasted for me.

Distracted time.

Ineffective time.

Likely.

It's been an area the enemy has effectively nailed me.

And I don't like that.

So.

I'm being intentional.

Because it won't come naturally to me.

To pay attention.

To the opportunities.

Where I have been placed.



In order to reflect Jesus.

I.

need.

to.

be.

well placed.

And well placed.

Is where He places me.