Life Interrupted ......

“We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Programming …..”

I guarantee you that growing  up, I always heard this at the most inconvenient time. It was during the crucial conversation of a favorite show or the last play of the game I  was looking forward to all week.  

Life Interrrupted ......

Interruptions, by their nature, don't always come when planned. They are true to their definition of breaking the continuity of continuous process of an activity of process. Interruptions alter plans, cause you to change directions and adjust.

Did I say that interruptions come at the most inconvenient time?

Life Interrupted …..

The past several weeks my life has been interrupted ….

“Sheila, We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Programmed Life as Goer and a Giver with this Breaking News :  Sit down, Be Still and Receive."

My response .........

Are you serious .....?

Be Still and Receive ……… The two most difficult things for someone who is a Goer and  Giver ……….. Someone like me.

For the last month, I have had to slow down, be still and receive.  And no, it never comes at a convenient time….. Never…   It meant a change of plans, letting go, re-positioning and adjustments.

And I did say that never comes at a convenient time, right?

It’s like pressing pause and resetting….. But this life interruption taught me that I need to go through a review lesson on receiving.  I am not the best student ....

“Gracious acceptance is an art - an art which most of us never bother to cultivate.  We think that we have to learn how to give, but we forget about accepting things, which can be much harder than giving .. Accepting another person’s gift is allowing that person to express their feelings for you. “ Alexander McCall Smith

• The only way to learn how to receive is …… to receive.

• Receiving gives the giver an opportunity to be a channel of blessing.   One of my students told me bluntly, “Ms. Spencer, you’re always saying that it is a blessing to give, So you why are you blocking my blessing when you won’t let me give to you?”

• Receiving reminds me that I am not in control … Not that I ever really was in control. I have learned the importance of being part of a community that supports and loves.  Receiving is another reminder that we need each other.

• Receiving gives you the opportunity to deepen relationships -  My friend told me today that I am such the committed giver, that I need to take the time to step back and let others reciprocate.  He reminded me that receiving gives you a glimpse into someone's heart.  It is a way that you can learn more about someone.

I need these reminders

There are lessons learned from a life interrupted.  I have realized that it’s changed my perspective and reminded me of some basic truths.  In the midst of always being on the go and giving to others, sometimes I can miss the wisdom that is right in front of me.

Life Interrupted .... or is it?

“The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s ‘own’, or ‘real’ life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one’s real life – the life God is sending one day by day: what one calls one’s ‘real life’ is a phantom of one’s own imagination.”  CS Lewis

 I realized that instead of viewing it as life interrupted .... it should just be life.  Life is naturally full of changes, twists and turns that come along with the journey.  Maybe Interruptions can be detours that turn out to be the tour that we needed to take to learn the lesson.  Life can be both more than you ever dreamed and nothing like you expected.  What if we viewed the interruptions as a continual part of life.  Interruptions can be interventions that are nothing that we planned, yet just what God scheduled.  The cancelled flight that completely throws your schedule off, but you end up running into a friend you haven't seen in years.  The interruptions that shift our Plan A into Plan B, J or Z. 

What if it's not life interrupted ... But simply life ...

This life interruption has made me stop, be still and  receive. This unexpected interruption has given me the space to pause, reset, heal and reflect.

I've had time to reflect upon life's interruptions and receive  .... that has been a benefit of being still.

Being still ....... yeah about that. 

Yeah, that's going be another blog.

Not the best student in that area either .....

Maybe it's not Life Interrupted ...……. maybe it's just life

Life,

Sheila

Lessons in the Midst of the Storm

I am writing this while in the midst of a storm.  

It is one of those typical Indiana rain storms with combination of a steady pour of rain and wind, there's no way to live here and escape them.  As much as I would like to stay inside whenever it storms, life doesn't always allow me to do that. In fact, I've already ventured out early in the morning into the midst of it. It means adjusting what I wear and going out there. .  Even if seems forever. I learn lessons being in the midst of the storm, adjusting what I wear, being more aware of my surroundings and those around me.  It slows down my driving, making me more careful and conscious.  Lessons from previous storms remind me what to do and not to do. Sometimes it's a few moments, or several hours,… but regardless of the length of the storm, there is one certainty …. it eventually passes. 

There are lessons learned in the storm. 

I am writing this while in the midst of a storm.

It is one of those typical life storms with a combination of a steady pour of distractions and unexpected challenges, there's no way to live here and escape them.  As much as I would like to go for cover whenever there are stormy moments, life doesn't allow me to do that.  In fact, I've already had to deal with some issues earlier today. Sometimes the seasons seem forever, but I learn to make adjustments, giving myself more grace, slowing down, being still and more conscious of those around me.  Regardless of the length of the storm, there is one certainly .. it eventually passes. 

The greatest lessons I have in the storm has been riding it out, not just when it subsides.  But knowing how to ride it out prepares me each time, because as sure as the storm subsides, it will start again. But it's the peaceful moments in the midst of the storm, that come in unexpected ways.

 It's in the sanctuary and covering of friends, it's being in a worship service that opens up with Peace be still, a sermon that encourages my faith, followed by the song that reminds me that the battle is not mine, it's the Lord's.  It's in transparent places, it's in hugs in hallways and authentic prayers, it's in the sanctuary of giving yourself the gift of grace and peace. 

Still learning and leaning through the storm..... 

Peace in the midst, 

Sheila