I tend to keep a pretty full schedule and I am completely lost without a watch (that is set at least 5 minutes ahead). And within the time blocks I have I try to get the most of out of my minutes. So as a general rule, I do not like interruptions of any type. One setting where I try to keep particularly focused is during my workouts. On occasion people may recognize me from a church and want to chat, which immediately I begin to look at the clock hoping the conversation can wrap up in between sets -- which is never the case.
Sometimes I get lucky that Ed Noble, our teaching pastor, is working out at the same time and I usually say something like this, "You know Ed is working out at that station over there and I am sure he would love for you to say hi." Which usually does the trick. People gladly talk to the pastor instead of the occasional weekend host.
I always smile walking by Ed as he engages the other person still some 15-20 minutes later.
Yeah, I know I am a bad person.
Yet if there is an interruption that I welcome -- it is when someone "briefly" shares what God is doing in their life. Now as much as I love hearing the big praise stories where we hear God do something miraculous or where God intervenes in some possible life-altering situation -- the best type of stories, for me, is when people share everyday life situations where they take seemingly simple steps of obedience or follow through on a gentle prompting of the Spirit.
In recent weeks, on a couple of occasions, I left 24 Hour Fitness (Temecula, where I normally workout : ) very encouraged as someone shared with me these two incidents:
1. After hearing the message on Sunday this person felt prompted to lead the Pop Warner football team he helps coach in prayer before the game. He shared how nervous he felt about approaching the parents and coaches about praying for good sportsmanship and safety for the kids. And when he did ask for permission how cool it was thatl the parents were so grateful that this gesture was being made. Now they pray before every game!
2. After an altercation with a fellow coach, instead of going into a full blown argument, he decided to walk away recognizing that the outcomes might have taken him to place where he simply did want to go. He shared that God has done so much in his life the last thing he wanted to do was go back to behavior reminiscent of old and just as well be forgotten lifestyle. So though he may have lost the argument, he gained the knowledge of God's continual working in his life.
These two situations may not be earth shattering, but they are the situations where God is doing some of his most tranformative work. I don't know about you, but I have a lot easier time trusting God with "big" things of life versus the everyday. Jesus himself said that the process of following Him is an incremental, daily practice -- Luke 23 ESV says ... And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."
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