Inconvenience or Blessing?

Sometimes it's easy to get weighted down by the responsibilities of life.  It's easy to forget about what really matters.  I like to make out a to-do list everyday, listing my responsibilities and what I would like to get done for that day.  I actually think that's good to do, it helps us stay on track and not get distracted.  But what if a distraction isn't a distraction at all, but is really God speaking to us?  How many times have we passed up being a blessing to someone because it's not on our "to-do list"?  How do we discern distractions from our purpose?  

There was one time I did a school tour up North.  I spoke to about 1,400 people that day.  We invited all the students back that night to a rally where I was able to share Christ with them.  About 300 students showed up and 150 came forward when the call to accept Christ was given.  I was extremely happy with the results and feeling proud of myself for accomplishing such a task.  I felt like I had been in a long battle fighting for those students and finally God had prevailed!  As the night came to a close and the altar workers spoke to the students, praying for them and getting information to stay in contact, I sat in the bleachers looking over the battlefield silently praising God for the victory.  

 I was extremely tired and was very proud of my exhaustion, knowing that I gave my all and it was time to rest.  As I was about to leave (already dreaming of how nice it would be to sink deep into my bed, sheets still cold and the fan blowing on high) this kid walks up to me and starts to talk.  I saw him as an inconvenience. As he began to talk I lost interest and started thinking, 'please God let the fire alarm go off or someone please come save me.' Now I know, no one else has ever done this, and I am the only one to ever treat someone whith such disrespect and selfishness, but please try to understand.  He wasn't talking about how he had some amazing encounter with God, he didn't mention that he was on the brink of suicide or was dealing with this major sin-struggle. If he did, I would have listened.  He was just a kid wanting to talk.  And not about anything in particular, but about every random thing you could imagine.  He kept trying to get me to interact with him, but I had already crossed off the last item on my day's "to-do list."  My job was done for that day, and this guy was an obstacle in my way, keeping me from my bed.  He didn't seem like he had too many friends.  His hair was greasy and matted, his clothing was dirty and he smelled like he hadn't had a shower in weeks.  I noticed his right arm was deformed and he tried to conceal it with his other arm.  After a while of him talking and me doing everything in my power to wrap it up, I reached for a CD and gave it to him, hoping it would make him leave.  I'll never forget the disappointment I saw in his eyes.  He had a look that said "you don't have time for me either."  He didn't say anything else, he just looked at me then turned and walked away.  

I remember when he left, God spoke to me and said "Jason you just missed it."  I began to plead my case to God hoping that he would take back this conviction and say "oh, ok...that's what you meant... sorry my bad, my bad."  I said, "Lord I spoke to 1,400 people today 300 of which came tonight and 150 gave their lives to you,"  but still all I heard was "Jason you missed it."  "But God you don't understand--I'm spent, I gave you my all today. I laid it all out, I spoke to 1,400 people!!  "Jason you missed it."  It cut so deep, I immediately jumped to my feet and started panning the auditorium for this boy, but he was nowhere to be found.  I wanted to find him and talk about random stuff. I wanted to let him know that I cared.  But I was too late; he was gone. I can't tell you the pain I felt.  I knew God was big enough to take care of that kid. I knew that He was faithful enough to bring someone into his life to mentor him and love him, but I will never forget that feeling when the realization hit that I had missed what God had me there to do.  My tunnel vision made me miss the one thing I was there for. My "to do list" was done--it never occured to me to that God's "To-Do" List should trump mine.   

One of my favorite stories in the bible is found in Luke chapter 8.  It starts off with Jesus coming across the lake and people are there to welcome him with open arms.   Among this crowd there's a man named Jarius and he has a need.  His little 12 year old girl is dying and he crys out to Jesus to come heal her.  Jesus was moved with compassion and went with Jarius.  But on the way something was about to interrupt His "to do list".  There was a woman with an issue of blood.  She had a bleeding hemorrhage.  She was an outcast, a nobody.  Yet she got the courage to push her way through the crowd, go up to Jesus and touch his garment.  Jesus knew someone touched him. As he looks around he sees this lady crying at his feet.  He reaches down, her up and ultimately heals her.  No way that was on his "to do" list--she was an interruption.  His purpose was Jarius and his little girl.  Can you imagine what's going through Jarius mind!?  He's probably saying "DUDE WHAT THE DEUCE!  YOU NEED TO COME ON AND HEAL MY DAUGHTER!!!"  But Jesus saw a need and filled it.  He wasn't concerned about his list, or that he wasn't going to make it on time to his next appointment.  His concern was for people and for meeting their needs.
    
Sometimes we can get so prioritized that we forget what's really priority.  We forget that our "to do" list really doesn't matter, that our schedules aren't as busy as we make them sound, and that we really aren't as important as we would like to think.  We forget that our best is like filthy rags to Jesus.  Jesus was concerned about the multitudes, but I believe he was concerned about them one at a time.  He saw individuals.   Not someone that he could benefit from but who could benefit from him.  I know I will be tired again and I know that in itself is not wrong. What I do hope is when I'm tired that I am able to look outside myself and see the need.  I recognize when I start looking out for myself that's usually when everything starts to fall apart.  What if Jesus's response to the woman with the issue of blood  was, "Lady I'm working here!   You need to make an appointment!"  Yeah... for some reason I don't see that happening.

I no longer want to get into a "to do list" mentality and check out once the items are checked off.  I always want to be wary of letting the "to do list" keep me from my purpose.  I challenge you to take time to stop and look around for the opportunity,  to set your "to do list" your "schedule" your "ego" aside and give room for God to move through you to bless someone else.  We cannot pick and choose when God will use us, we simply have to be ready.