Bob Goff is a really cool dude in my book. I am still excited that I got the chance to meet him just a few days ago. He is the author of two best selling books; Love Does and Everybody Always. In the back of each book, he lists his phone number. One of my good friends thought it'd be fun to call him just to see what would happen. So she called him one evening. And he energetically answered with, "Hey, this is Bob." He explains he does this almost every time and he loves it! Bob lives life like that...loving the interruptions.
I think we can all agree, Bob is definitely not the norm.
Interruptions. As small as someone butting into your conversation or the story you were telling. As big as life taking an unexpected turn that throws you for a loop into a downward spiral.
Interruptions. They are frustrating and irritating. They distract and annoy. They can cause anger and resentment. They can come in the form of text messages, knocks at the door, or phone calls. They can also be much bigger...broken relationships, sickness, or death.
When someone asks us Christ followers who our role model is, we should without hesitation say Christ every time. Right? We should, but we don't. We are just too human and we tend to forget that he was human, too. He was the greatest story teller. He was the greatest friend. He was the greatest shepherd. He was the greatest listener. He was the greatest teacher. Why?
One of the main reasons in my opinion is that He loved and embraced the interruptions.
Jesus went to a wedding one time. He liked to celebrate and have a good time at things such as this just like us. But his mom knew just who to ask for help when then party runs out of wine. Jesus stepped up to the task even in the middle of a celebration.
He got thirsty one day on one of his long trips and stopped at a well. Jesus met a woman and ends up quenching her thirst instead of his own.
One time Jesus was walking down the road, passing through, and saw a man up in a tree. He realizes that the little dude must need something so he stopped and talked to him. Jesus changed his plans and eats dinner at the guy's house.
Jesus was on his way to a buddy's house to heal his daughter and as he is trying to make his way through a big crowd of people, somebody grabs his coat. Startled, he turns around to see a pretty sick woman who nobody wanted to help. So he stops and heals her.
Another time, Jesus was preaching to a bunch of grown ups. All these little kids start running up to him so they can be blessed. His cohorts step in and scold the little ones, shooing them away. Jesus stops everything and invites the children to come to him, gathering as many as possible up on his lap I am sure.
Speaking of his cohorts...those apostles crack me up. Look at all those times where they had to question their leader, ask a favor, or get an explanation. They even interrupted his prayer time with their inability to stay awake! And what did Christ do...answered, explained, and prayed. He ended up even washing their feet during supper. I bet his food got cold.
I could keep going, but I think we get the picture. Jesus...a man who loved through the interruptions. He didn't see them as nuisances and irritants...he saw them as opportunities and blessings. The interruptions were his chances to show how God in the flesh loved the people he came to not only save but to serve. He allowed the interruptions in is life to be full of love and grace, to bring joy and mercy, and to yield service, not legalistic duty.
Making Jesus our role model. Welcoming the interruption instead of pardoning it. Taking the opportunity to love, serve, and forgive.
I am thinking Bob Goff might be on to something.
I am pretty sure if Jesus had lived in the days of cell phones he'd answer his every time, too.
