Welcomed Interruptions

I finished a book today. Nouwen Then, Personal Reflections on Henri. It was more like a conversation than a book. Different authors shared of their encounters with or the impact upon their lives by Henri Nouwen. Yesterday I read two things that really made a difference in my thinking—at least for the day, but hopefully longer.

The first thing had to do with interruptions. How do you feel about them? Typically, they annoy me. Delays in traffic, things or people who crimp my schedule, spillage and breakage, can all jolt me into a frustrated mess of emotional upheaval. I just don’t like them. It’s as if my mind has one channel to work on. For example, I’m trying to write this early in the morning before everyone wakes up and the phone rings. I hurry to answer it quickly and it’s some telemarketer with an offer to get me quick money. Oh great, now the neighbor thinks he has to weed eat and edge around his house. How am I supposed to concentrate?

I have read many times about the lives of saints and missionaries who have some superhuman ability to accept the unexpected with grace and a level of excited anticipation that reflects the spirit of Jesus in a way I’ll never be able to achieve. Nouwen describes this ability, this gracious acceptance of life’s interruptions as hospitality. Persons with this gift have the ability to open their lives as they would open their homes to unexpected visitors. Rather than experiencing the interruption as a problem or annoyance they are seen as an opportunity. The problem for most of us is that our lives, like our homes, are crammed with so much stuff, that there is very little room for welcoming left.

Yesterday when I was trying to read and digest this material, I had made my way to my attic office/sanctuary. My quiet was soon to be shattered by three lively and joyous grandchildren bent on having fun and having it loudly. I sighed; something my family says I do a lot. I just wanted a few minutes of quiet to read. Was that too much to ask for? They not only wanted to play in my space they required my attention. The air was filled with a chorus of, “Look at me, Mema.”

I was going to ask them to stop when the words of the book landed heavy on my reality. What about this opportunity? My grandkids are not annoyances; they are amazing and precious gifts to my life. They are only little for the briefest of times and soon they won’t care if Mema sees what they’re doing. Their laughter will not fill every corner of my house or my heart. Of course I’ll look. Of course I’ll count. Of course I’ll do whatever.

Is the woman needing to check out before me at the grocery any less important? Perhaps I could use the time sitting waiting in construction to pray for all the requests that come my way. Maybe the time spent with a coworker trying to figure out what’s wrong with my email is a great opportunity to build friendship and foundation to talk with her about Jesus. Could it be that having to wait in line at the bank will slow me up just enough that I will cross paths with someone whose life only I can touch? And when I face each situation will I see it as an opportunity and welcome it or just a frustrating delay I just have to live with and get through?

Sounds like the children are awake. Two of them will be leaving today. Excuse me while I go play with my favorite interruptions. How will you welcome yours today?