I was at a skate park the other day and there were these two little kids (probably no older than 8) that were hanging out and asking everyone if they could use their board. I said no at first because I had just arrived and was eager to skate, and for whatever reason everyone else was telling them no too. After I had skated for a while I finally agreed to let one of them ride my board, and when he finally got his hands on one it brought the biggest smile to my face as I watched him ride around the park. For one, he was better than I expected him to be. He could ride down and up all the banks and  turn decent enough not to fall off the board when he went around sharp corners. But what really made me laugh was his lack of care for anything going on around him. He was so excited to be on a board he didn’t pay any attention to anything around him. My friend Steven went to try something down the stairs and as soon he hit the ground a board went flying at him because the kid tried to jump down the stairs right behind him. We both couldn’t help but laugh hysterically. He was so young and excited to be on a board, skate park etiquette didn’t matter all that much.

As I sat there watching him, it became funny to me how I first didn’t want to give my board up, and then how happy it made me when I finally did. It reminded me of all the times Jesus was interrupted during his life and the good that always came from it. Most (if not all) the miracles Jesus performed during his ministry happened when he was on his way somewhere or busy doing something else. It was the interruptions in His life that really fueled his ministry and brought fourth all his greatest works.

It also reminded me of the scene in Matthew 19:13-15 when people are bringing children to Jesus to pray for them, but the disciples are trying to turn them away. But as a result, Jesus gets upset and says to His disciples, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for such belongs the kingdom of God.” I picture the disciples in this scenario sitting there watching Jesus with the children and saying to themselves, “look how funny they are, why did we ever turn them away,” just how I felt with the kid at the skate park.

A lot of the time it is in the interruptions and in those moments that first seem like hassles that we often see God move the most. I probably made that kid’s day and created a memory that he may never forget, and to think I first saw him as a nuisance that was in the way of my skating. Jesus says in Matthew 25:37-40, “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” We show our love for God by how we choose to love people. Sometimes it seems like a hassle or a nuisance, but once we do it, we will be glad we did. From now and into eternity. Not only do we live forever with Jesus in Heaven, but we live forever in the people that we make those memories with. There have been countless times when someone has made an impact on my life that I will never forget that may have seemed like no big deal or some small matter to them. What we do and how we treat people matters, in the present and into eternity. 

Reflection Questions:

Isn’t it funny how it is in the nuisances’ and interruptions of life where God seems to use us the most? That homeless guy you saw coming towards you while on your way somewhere that you were hoping wouldn’t say anything, but he did, and as a result you had an experience you will never forget. I heard a pastor say once that we should make time for interruptions on our commutes because of these truths. What do you think could happen if we weren’t always going about our day with tunnel vision and we’re making time for interruptions?