Divine Interruption.
Six years ago as Christmas approached I felt tired, more tired than usual. As December unfolded the tiredness was soon accompanied by feelings of nausea when I brushed my teeth in the morning. The week before Christmas I pushed through my resistance and purchased a pregnancy test. I remember laying it carefully on the second shelf of the linen closet in our bathroom and walking upstairs to Libby's room and sitting down in the glider chair. I slowly rocked back and forth wondering if there would be one or two pink lines when I returned to the bathroom. As I rocked my heart was sliding back forth between fear about what the truth might mean and stunned wonder at what God might be doing.
It was a Divine Interruption that waited for me on the second shelf of that cabinet and my life was altered in unexpected ways that have been both glorious and difficult to hold.
I would never have imagined our drive to the airport to pick up our grown daughter returning home for Christmas from her job in a city far away to include these types of words...
"Let's go everyone, we are going to be late!"
"I can't get my left shoe tied, can someone help me?"
"I want to bring a barbie is that ok mom?"
"Sheepy isn't going to the airport with us."
"Sheepy is coming the airport, Sheepy is part of this family and the whole family is going to pick up Katy"
Divine Interruption.
18 months ago Mark walked through the door of the house and spoke the words, "They let me go today." I was sitting in my chair talking with my parents about the final projects that needed to be finished before the "For Sale" sign went in the ground later that day in our front yard. The loss of Mark's job was a heavy blow and was only part of what would alter the course of our lives that summer. As the realities of our life continued to unravel the word interruption feels appropriate to apply. All that we had thought about where we would live, what we do and how the next ten years of our life would look was shattered.
Divine Interruption.
There are surely more such stories I could tell, but none quite as dramatic as these. The interruption is divine when it seems to come from nowhere and has the hand prints of God all over it. His hand prints do not ease the shock, or remove the disruption that inevitably accompanies such events.
A sleepy city housing travelers waiting to register for a census the next day. The story about a Messiah was a familiar tale passed down from generation to generation, the city was named in the prophecy, and after so many years I imagine it was easy to dismiss the probability of such an event actually occurring. Still, a brilliant star rose in the sky and a unassuming couple made their way into the city carrying the Savior of us all.
The scene is really unbelievable.
I have heard the words "unbelievable" about the stories of my own life. To see God's plan unfold is still unbelievable.
He comes in ways that are an interruption to our daily routines, and the predictability that we have embraced...often calling it "stability".
He still comes to the "stable" and births something life giving, unexpected and divinely interrupting.
Where is your "stable" place this year, are you ready for Him to come interrupt it?
You should know that with His interruptions also comes an invitation to party with Him.....
You are blessed beyond description. I am in awe of how God uses you to touch my heart and I am certain the hearts of so many others. You are a blessing to those whose lives you touch. Merry Christmas and Happy Blessed New Year to you and those whom you love.
Posted by: Irene Garza Cook | December 21, 2011 at 06:55 AM