Make room for interruption

“And Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’” - Mark 10:49

Interruptions can feel like obstacles.

You’re trying to get out the door, and someone needs one more thing. You’re in the middle of work, and a text comes in. You finally have a few quiet minutes, and someone wants to talk.

You have a plan for the day, and life has a different one.

It’s easy to see interruptions as something in the way of what really matters.

But when I look at the life of Jesus, I’m struck by how often He made room for people who interrupted Him.

A blind man crying out from the roadside.

A woman reaching for the edge of His garment.

Children others tried to push away.

Crowds who were hungry, tired, sick, confused, and desperate.

Jesus had purpose. He had direction. He knew what He came to do. And yet, He was never too focused on the mission to miss the person in front of Him.

That challenges me.

Because sometimes I can be so focused on what I’m trying to accomplish that I miss the human being right in front of me.

The child who wants my attention.

The friend who needs a few minutes.

The person who is asking a question beneath the question.

The conversation I’m tempted to rush through because I’m already thinking about the next thing.

Of course, we can’t say yes to everything. But we should be careful about becoming men who are too busy to notice people. Sometimes love looks like stopping.

Looking someone in the eyes.

Listening a little longer.

Being inconvenienced for the sake of care.

The person in front of you may not be an interruption to your life. He or she may be part of what God is inviting you to notice today.

Where do you tend to treat people like interruptions?

Who in your life may need more of your attention, patience, or care?

What would it look like to slow down enough to notice the person in front of you today?