We interrupt this article before it even begins to communicate this vitally important message— Interruptions happen.
Last weekend we were hit with a snowstorm that blanketed the earth with about seven inches of the white stuff. The snowstorm interrupted our plans. Cameron and Casey Fisher were scheduled to be baptized. But the snow made travel inadvisable for Cameron and Casey’s grandparents—all who live out of town—so we decided to postpone the baptisms. And since we weren’t doing the baptisms, I decided to save the sermon on baptism I had been working on and preach on something else—David and Goliath.
As I was winding my sermon down, I see Kerra and John pop in. They were supposed to be on the road to Indianapolis to catch John’s scheduled flight to D.C. But due to the weather in Virginia, the flight was cancelled. Another interruption.
Interruptions often bring disappointment. I’m certainly disappointed we couldn’t do the baptisms Sunday. But I was happy to have one more day with John before he went back to school. I was disappointed that I wouldn’t be delivering my sermon on the baptism of Jesus. But I was very pleased that some people heard the story of David and Goliath for the first time.
Interruptions often bring disappointment. But interruptions can also lead to something you might never have experienced apart from the interruption—the unexpected. We had several first time guests Sunday—on a day I would not have expected anyone to come to a new church. Of course our college students are regularly bringing their friends and acquaintances with them. Fellowship time after church provided me an opportunity to look around and notice who we are becoming. We’re becoming a blend of people of various generations, various nationalities, and various backgrounds.
Sure, there’s a measure of comfort in the predictable life that’s free of interruptions. But there’s something to be said for the interruptions that come our way and remind us that we are not in charge.
Interruptions remind us that we don’t have life figured out and that we can’t do it on our own. They are like the Shepherd’s rod, pulling us back from our wandering ways, back to our Great Shepherd. We need these interruptions. Like nothing else, they push us to the cross of Christ where we must remember the gospel and receive his grace and forgiveness.
The weather forecast this weekend is calling for more snow and ice, so we may or may not celebrate baptism this Sunday. But we will surely celebrate what baptism signifies—that God has interrupted our lives with His grace to remind us that we are not in charge, and that He cares more about our transformation than He does about our daily comfort.
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Jan 24th
Sanctuary- Pastor