Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!

Luke 2:9-11

How interruptible are you? I know that in #2020, all parents of school-aged children have had to develop the discipline of being continuously interrupted. I imagine I won’t even get through writing this post without being interrupted 2 or 3 times to help as a virtual-school teacher’s assistant. Constantly leaving and returning to your tasks can be exhausting, and some serious mental gymnastics. But that is not the kind of interruption I am talking about.

How married are you to your plan? How much deviation to your internal agenda for your day, your week, your life, do you allow? Does an unexpected detour in your path throw you into a tailspin? Do you carry room for the emergent needs of others to reroute your priorities?

The shepherds did not expect to see their pastures light up with angels. They didn’t leave room for a divine disturbance in their life’s path. They were the night workers, rough and tumble, used to a solitary lifestyle, and probably uncomfortable with most social niceties. When the heavenly host of angels showed up, they had a choice. Follow, and allow their lives to be forever marked, or close off their hearts and minds to an event that didn’t conform to their ideas of who they were and how life would go.

A heavenly host of angels is hard to ignore. So is a diagnosis of cancer, a surprise second line on a pregnancy test, a global pandemic, the loss of a job or a treasured relationship. Some journeys we are led on, whether we want to take them or not. But our reaction to the wrinkle, that is in our control.

Are we interruptible? Do we approach new situations with openness, with curiosity of what they will hold, with a sense of wonder or humility? Or do we clench our grip tight around the normal life we expected, shaking our fists and bemoaning the injustice of the situation?

Interruptions are uncomfortable. They ask much of us. They require us to stretch, to change our plans, to create capacity for new emotions, new needs to care for others, and new realities. They confront our fears of the unknown, our secret terror of not being enough head on. But these interruptions have the potential to be miraculous. If we allow them space to grow.

Behold, there is good news of great joy. For unto us is born a child in the City of David. He is Christ the Lord!