Blessed Annoyance

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

I don’t handle interruption very well. 

There, I wrote it. 

And just as I begin writing about how interruption annoys me:

“Honey, come here and pick up my pen. I dropped it on the floor, and I have a student in five minutes. 

“And bring a cup of tea with a little milk in it. My throat’s dry. I need to teach for the next hour. 

“But get the pen for me first. It rolled under my desk. You’ll need to use the grab stick and the light on your phone. I know it hurts your knees. Use the cushion on the couch.”

I quickly hit “Save” to preserve the few words I wrote, hoping the thought I had seconds earlier will still be there when I get back. Or could it be that God let her drop the pen and gave her the thirst just to provide the material I need to write about how annoyed I am? 

Come to think of it, I did ask for His guidance as I booted my computer, clicked on my word processor program, and wrote the first few words.

Elizabeth’s disability has paralyzed her right side and confined her to a wheelchair, but it hasn’t affected her ability to teach. She’ll be doing that until she’s not able. 

I decide to prepare the tea first, contrary to her instruction—I consider it a minor act of defiance—and let it cool while I get the pen. The tea’s usually too hot for her anyway. 

Task accomplished.

I hear Elizabeth greeting her next student, and this is my time to get back to what I was doing, unless she needs a book that’s out of her reach. She’ll text message me.

It’s also my time to review what just happened. I was annoyed, and I know it showed, but why? Why am I perturbed when I’m called upon to perform a task that defines my calling?

Meditation:

I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV).

Question:

What does it mean to walk “worthy” of your calling? 

Humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, and love are not natural human traits. How would you go about achieving them?  

Read: Galatians 5:22-24