Blessed Interruptions

Have you ever felt hunted down by interruptions... this is how El Padre started his sermon as we talked to churches before traveling to the Sahel. I think we can all relate! Interruptions may look different in different cultures, but they are always there. Mark 1:29-39 gives a look into Jesus' response to interruptions. El Padre brought to my attention three important learning points from this passage, 1) Jesus takes time to be alone and connect with God. 2) Jesus didn't respond to being hunted down with frustration or in overprotection of His time. 3) Jesus let the interruptions turn Him outward - doing the good things with the focus He had in his private time. Taking the power and meaning of the time spent alone with God and bringing it to the outside world with His actions.

These are the children playing while the Moms are learning.

Nearly a year later I come back to reflecting on interruptions. This past weekend I had the privilege of spending the morning with four other missionary mothers who live within a couple hours of our city. We spent the time in scripture, reflecting and sharing. One of the questions was to define a blessing. We often think of a blessing as a really good day or event or something very positive. The discussions we were having brought me back to that sermon on interruptions and eventually brought me to the conclusion that many blessings come through interruptions. Am I willing to look back on the day I just had and define the learning opportunities, the areas that exposed sin, the conversations during an interruption, the things that keep me from proper exercise or rest for my body, (and the list goes on) as a blessing? These are the hidden blessings that God is using to mold me into who He wants me to be. May we have the eyes to see today's interruptions as blessings.