Pathways Press.com

Written by Brian Morykon, a contemporary writer.

There is a time for focus. A time for deep work and Do Not Disturb.  A time to stick to the schedule. But a mark of spiritual maturity is being interruptible and having a willingness to do menial things. “It is a strange fact,” writes Bonhoeffer, “that Christians and even ministers frequently consider their work so important and urgent that they will allow nothing to disturb them. They think they are doing God a service in this, but actually they are disdaining God’s ‘crooked yet straight path.’” I once shared an office with a pastor for three weeks, where the door stayed open most of the day. When a person popped in unannounced, which happened often, the pastor turned from the computer and offered full-presence listening without an ounce of irritation. That willingness to attend to small matters with great care was to me a sign and a wonder. Anyone with a job or a family knows there are limitless opportunities to serve others through small things—few things shape a soul like dishes and diapers.  For those who crave recognition, writes Richard Foster, “nothing transforms the desires of the flesh like serving in hiddenness.”  On the other hand, those who fear recognition—perhaps both fear and crave it—may try to avoid the pitfall of human praise by only serving in small ways, even when God invites them into more public service. Obscurity or visibility is not the goal. Love is the goal. Jesus is the goal. We follow him wherever he leads, serving people in small things, and maybe even in great ones, too. So, Father, make us interruptible—not for distractions of our own making, but for the people you put in our path. Help us to do small things and big things with great love, by the power of the Spirit of Jesus who lives and works in us.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. [2 Corinthians 9:12]

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