Grace Notes, July 21, 2010

Life is full of interruptions. Some are welcome and some are not. Here
at Salem there is rarely a day that goes as planned. People stop in,
phone, or email to tell of someone dear who is suffering in some way.
Accidents happen, health changes in an instant, someone has died, someone
is in danger. We drop everything and respond.

Ron and I received such a call while camping this weekend. My uncle had
had a stroke and his life still hangs in the balance. It remains to be
seen if he can breathe on his own and recover. We left to spend several
hours with my aunt and family at Swedish American hospital. I was so glad
for the time and am anxious for my day off to go back and be with them.

On Wednesday evenings this summer a group of us are studying the book
"Receiving the Day" by Dorothy Bass, a Valparaiso professor Ron and I met
at Holden Village last June. Dorothy writes about God's gift of time and
how we receive it. One of the chapters talked of world-renown author
Henri Nouwen, a Dutch priest and professor who writes that he became
increasingly annoyed at interruptions while working at his office, until
one day he realized that the interruptions were his work.

Have you found this to be true? I remember as a young mother trying to
get several things done at home while watching our sons. They did not
have my undivided attention until one would cry or get an "owie" or
perhaps discover a caterpillar or butterfly to share. These things would
call me back to my first priority of raising our children. There have
been many times we cancelled plans because parents or family needed us, a
neighbor had an accident, or one of us got sick.

Sometimes life brings long-term interruptions….retirement is postponed
because finances have failed or grandchildren need help, health crises
occur and plans and dreams are lost,
relationships fail and there is a painful, gaping hole in your heart.

I think God is a god of interruptions. I believe God is in the midst of
them – calling us to faith and action and care – calling us to trust and
rest in his promises. Sometimes we get to thinking life is good if there
is nothing unexpected to rock the boat. But sometimes a rocking boat
helps us set priorities and be who we are called to be.

Maybe what we need is a change of attitude. The next time we are
interrupted, whether in a big or small way, we might ask the Lord "What
blessings do you have in this interruption, Lord? How can you use me to
bring them about?"

Thanks for taking the time to read this weekly devotional called "Grace
Notes". May they interrupt your thinking and prayer in a good way.

God's rich blessings,

Carla Vanatta, Associate in Ministry
Salem Lutheran Church

Salem reminders:

6:00 p.m. Cookout and Study this evening, Wed. July 21st, Fellowship Hall

2:30 p.m. Worley/Hillman wedding Sat. July 24th – remember them in your
prayers

5:00 Saturday, 8:00 & 10:30 Sunday worship services; Summer Choir 9:45
a.m. Sunday