Community Update

INTERRUPTED


Since becoming a mother, there is a quote, by Ted Loder, that has become my mantra: “Maybe love is nothing more than a willingness to be interrupted.” All those stories I heard about not even being able to go to the bathroom by yourself once you have children are true! Even now, when my children are pre-teens, I am often interrupted while doing ordinary, everyday things. If it is not my children interrupting me, it is our dog or my husband! (Yes, the dog has figured out how to open a not-quite-closed door and visit me while I am in the bathroom, and my husband has always known how to open doors!)


This quote has been going through my head this weekend while I have been taking care of my daughter. She is sick – again – with fever, chills, and body aches. (She was sick the whole week of her spring school vacation with a similar virus.) I had big plans to thoroughly clean the house this weekend in preparation for houseguests who are visiting Memorial Day weekend so that they can go to my daughter’s dance recital. Instead, I am spending a lot of time giving my daughter medicine, water, and food; covering her with blankets when she is shivering because a fever is coming on; massaging her aching body; and just sitting with her watching movies because she doesn’t want to be alone while she doesn’t feel well. Don’t get me wrong – I LOVE hanging out with her and watching movies (sometimes I think I resemble a reptile because I love lying around reading or watching movies and television shows so much, particularly when the sun is shining through the window) – but I have things I have to get done, so I feel frustrated.


Then, in the midst of my frustration, that fabulous quote goes through my head: “Maybe love is nothing more than a willingness to be interrupted.” My willingness to have my agenda interrupted this weekend is a way of loving my daughter (who is only 10 years old) while she is not feeling well and is feeling vulnerable and in need of her mommy. I tell myself that in the big scheme of things, being with her when she needs me is more important than an organized and clean house. I’m sure my ego – when those guests arrive next weekend and everything I wanted to do in preparation isn’t done – won’t agree with me, but my higher self – my spiritual self – knows that this is true. So, who cares if the pediatrician asked yesterday when I took my daughter to the doctor what kind of pet we have at home because she knew we had a pet because my daughter’s jacket had pet hair on it because I don’t clean enough to always have the house free of pet hair? (Well, I did, a little, but then I got over it!)


Our willingness to be interrupted by those we love and by people in need is a spiritual discipline. We go beyond our own needs and desires and actively enter the world beyond ourselves. We become part of God’s big picture as we participate in a loving way in the world beyond ourselves. We enter the life of God. To me, this is the best definition of sacrifice: We give of ourselves lovingly and in that way we participate in the life of God in the world. When we participate in the life of God in this way, we create with God pockets of heaven on earth. What better use of our time is there?


“Maybe love is nothing more than a willingess to be interrupted.” My experience as a mother has taught me that this is a true statement. I pray that I continue to be willing and, in that way, participate with God in creating heaven on earth – even if my house doesn’t get organized and cleaned!