Interrupted
Over the last few weeks, a neighbor and I have been working to update our shared garden. As we spent hours digging holes, moving rocks, and planting flowers, our conversations often turned towards faith. The stories we shared came quickly and moved deeply. I listened to her life and she listened to mine. I could have chosen to work quietly, putting my head down to finish the job quickly. But had I chosen to work quietly, I would have missed being this piece of His story.
WORK INTERRUPTED
Jesus was often interrupted in the midst of His work. One man, Jarius, approached Jesus in the middle of teaching and asked Him to heal his dying daughter. Jesus could have chosen to stay at His post to keep teaching, but instead He welcomed the interruption. He left His work of teaching a crowd, got up, and walked with Jairus to his home.
WALKING to COMFORT
As they approached his home, Jesus walked with Jarius through the crowd of people who had gathered outside. The crowd proclaimed they arrived too late. Jaruis’ daughter was dead. He had traveled so far to find Jesus because he was confident Jesus could save her. Now he found himself unsure of what he was walking into.
HOW DIFFICULT MUST IT HAVE BEEN for Jarius to hear they were too late to save his daughter?
HOW REASSURING MUST IT HAVE BEEN to have someone walking alongside him for those final few steps through the crowd and into his home?
HOW COMFORTING MUST IT HAVE FELT to have a body to lean on as he stepped into his daughter’s room to look at her face?
HOW JOYOUS MUST IT HAVE FELT For Jarius and his wife to celebrate a life renewed when Jesus took his daughter’s hand and her Spirit returned?
STORY CHANGE
Jesus could have chosen to continue teaching the crowd instead of walking with Jarius and it would have been good. But like the choice I made to dig holes with my neighbor rather than working quietly alone, Jesus welcoming the interruption brought about a different kind of story:
One growing deeper because of the conversation shared during the journey home.
One building faith because of the reassurance and comfort Jesus provided they walked through the crowd together.
One ending with a life made anew.
That is the kind of story worthy of spreading across town!
WALKING TOGETHER
Our days are filled with lots of work and play. God calls us to work and these are good jobs to do! Our neighbors can walk thorough their days, moving through work, errands, and play alone. Jarius could have walked on the road and taken those last few steps into his home alone. But his steps were made easier because Jesus was with him. Jesus reassured Jarius that he was headed to the place he belonged: home. We can ease the steps our neighbors take as they venture into their daily lives at home too by walking with them.
leaving our jobs to walk together gives us margin to come alongside someone who needs reassurance and comfort as they walk into something unknown.
Work is good and so is putting work aside to come alongside another. Being open to the interruption of our work gives us the availability to meet our neighbors where they are at and join them in the walk to where they are going. The interruption is not quitting a job, it is a walking into the only job God has called us to do: growing heaven bigger. When we choose to walk into a different story and yoke together with another, we get to be the hands and feet of Jesus that ease their day. As we love them through the steps we take together, we are inviting them to join us in the walk to heaven’s doors. We are reassuring them Jesus will know them for all of eternity.
We become living servants of the One who came to life to serve the world with His life.
BE INTERRUPTED
Here are a few ways we can be a reassurance and comfort like Jesus was for Jarius as they walked into home together.
1. Look. When you see a coworker working alone, join them.
2. Ask. If you are running an errand alone, invite a neighbor to come alongside you. Enjoy conversation as you walk (or drive) together.
3. Pray. Invite God to give you eyes to see folks longing to be your interrupted and for His words to flow from your mouth as you obediently walk together.
4. Walk. When someone asks you for directions or help, join them in the walk to their destination.
