Rethinking Interruptions

Telephone receiver being held out to a surprised woman.
 

A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” 

Luke 10:30-37


Most of us are familiar with the Parable of the Good Samaritan.  But in reading it recently, my attention wasn’t drawn to him as much as to the other two men who came across the one who was attacked.

We’re told that one was a priest and the other was a Levite.  That is to say, these were religious individuals who didn’t lack for knowledge regarding the importance of extending mercy to those in need.

So why did they pass by?  Could it be that they feared the robbers were still around and didn’t want to put themselves in danger?  Or was it that they didn’t want to risk becoming ceremonially impure by touching something (someone) who might compromise them?

Or was it the fact that they simply didn’t want to be interrupted?  After all, since they were on the road, they were obviously going somewhere! And to take the time to stop and help would put them off schedule.

We may never come across a situation as dramatic as this in our world.  Indeed, if we did, we may well stop to help.

However, each day involves interruptions of a lesser variety from unexpected sources.  How should we deal with those?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer offers some good counsel: “We must be willing to allow ourselves to be interrupted…God will constantly be crossing our paths and cancelling our plans by sending us people with claims and requests.  We may pass them by, preoccupied with our more important tasks, like the priest who passed by the man who had fallen among the thieves.  When we do that, we bypass the visible sign of the cross raised on our path to show us that, not our way, but God’s way must be done.”

It is possible that when the phone rings or there’s a knock on the door or somebody asks a favor, it is a divine appointment disguised as an interruption.  Something that is more important than what we had planned.

Here’s an example.  Standing in line has to be one of the most frustrating interruptions in my schedule.  Whether waiting for a train to pass or for other shoppers to have their goods scanned, I often end up grumbling. After all, I have places to go and things to do.

But what if I considered that interruption as a divine appointment?  What if I looked at those who were causing me such frustration as individuals who mattered greatly to God? And what if I sent up a prayer for them?  For some that might be the only prayer they receive all day.

This doesn’t mean that anytime I’m interrupted I have to do what the interrupter wants.  It doesn’t mean that attention deficit disorder is actually a form of deep spirituality.

But I wonder: what would Jesus’ ministry have looked like if He had never allowed Himself to be interrupted?  Many of His greatest miracles and most unforgettable encounters were what could be considered interruptions.


Many of Jesus’ greatest miracles and most unforgettable encounters were what could be considered interruptions.


Jesus’ “Interruptions”

For example, as He was making His way from one town to another, Jesus was interrupted by a blind man named Bartimaeus and the Savior restored his sight.

Another time, He was on His way to do one good deed when a woman suffering from a chronic illness touched Him.  He turned to her and healed her.

He was eating a meal at the home of a Pharisee when a woman crashed the party.  He took the time to affirm her and forgive her.

Even while hanging on the cross in unimaginable agony, Jesus faced an interruption as one of the thieves engaged Him in conversation and asked to be remembered.  Jesus took the time to assure the man of that he would also be in paradise.

What if we determined to follow Jesus’ example?  What if, as we made our way through our days and to our destinations, we redefined those pesky interruptions as possible divine appointments?


What if, as we made our way through our days and to our destinations, we redefined those pesky interruptions as possible divine appointments?


What if, in the end, those appointments were as important for us to keep as the appointment we had been prioritizing?  Could it be that these would end up being some of our most unforgettable encounters?

PRAYER

Lord, even while I admire the Good Samaritan, I know that all too often I act like the priest or Levite.  I consider my agenda as most important.  And I look at anything and anyone who compromises that as a problem.  Help me to rethink those interruptions as possible divine appointments. And in so doing, help me honor Your agenda.


 
 
 

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