Being Interruptible
There I was at the local grocery store, dutifully minding my own business and ready to make a bee-line for check-out, when out of no where I was suddenly accosted by a fiery little 75 year old Scottish woman with an accent like Mrs. Doubt-Fire: I turned around, and there she was--and it was all over. About 20 minutes into story-telling and episode 9 of her life-saga, I realized that I wasn't going anywhere fast, and that I might as well get comfortable. Together, we crossed continents, the US, and various tangled chapters of her life (not necessarily in chronological order), wrapping up with her most recent and tragic tale of unrequited pining over love-lost. Her story, though not lacking any in adventure and life-long experience, was tinged throughout with the echo of loneliness and regret.
At the end, she asked if she could hug me--how could I possibly say no?
"You should write a book!" I encouraged enthusiastically, "You're a wonderful and very gifted story-teller!"
She sobered.
"Most people say I'm boring, and detest my accent."
Then, after a few more minutes of animated conversation, she was gone--left just as quickly and abruptly as she had come, but seeming to be noticeably lighter in spirit. I think about an hour of my time had been stolen by this little woman, and I found myself grateful to God that He had allowed my self-absorbed day to be interrupted.
I've heard it said that Jesus was completely "interruptible". We never read of Jesus being in a hurry. We never hear of Him turning people away, or complaining that someone took up His time. Jesus every move seemed to include something of a divine "pause" about it, as if He was always ready and quietly waiting for the next needy person who came His way.
If nothing else that day, I knew that by the time that little Scottish woman had left, that she walked away knowing that her life--and her story--mattered to someone else on this busy, crowded, and often lonely little planet... May God help us see the true value of others, as seen through His eyes. And may we be "interruptible" individuals, just like our Savior.
At the end, she asked if she could hug me--how could I possibly say no?
"You should write a book!" I encouraged enthusiastically, "You're a wonderful and very gifted story-teller!"
She sobered.
"Most people say I'm boring, and detest my accent."
Then, after a few more minutes of animated conversation, she was gone--left just as quickly and abruptly as she had come, but seeming to be noticeably lighter in spirit. I think about an hour of my time had been stolen by this little woman, and I found myself grateful to God that He had allowed my self-absorbed day to be interrupted.
I've heard it said that Jesus was completely "interruptible". We never read of Jesus being in a hurry. We never hear of Him turning people away, or complaining that someone took up His time. Jesus every move seemed to include something of a divine "pause" about it, as if He was always ready and quietly waiting for the next needy person who came His way.
If nothing else that day, I knew that by the time that little Scottish woman had left, that she walked away knowing that her life--and her story--mattered to someone else on this busy, crowded, and often lonely little planet... May God help us see the true value of others, as seen through His eyes. And may we be "interruptible" individuals, just like our Savior.
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