Since plans without fail are disrupted
I’ll choose, then, to be interrupted
Each day I will voice
In prayer this bold choice
My joy will prevail uncorrupted

Surprises this life guarantees
(With Old Murphy’s mischievous deeds)
But IF welcomed prior
Then curveballs and fires
Won’t ire me nor pilfer my peace

Each monkey wrench thrown in my face
Bequests me the cross to embrace
Those martyrdoms tiny
Endured, minus whining
Will refine my spoiled ego with grace

Bear fruit from intrusions: pre-choose ’em!
As a Friend once pre-chose all to lose

When plans are deflected

Or mayhem ensues

That Friend will surprise

As love unexpected

Intrudes

***

In his book Interior Freedom, Fr. Jacques Philippe uses the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux to explain the freedom available when we are interrupted. He says of Thérèse: “[St. Thérèse] did not like having her work interrupted. Sometimes she was asked to do work requiring quite a lot of concentration … [but] the schedule of the Carmelite community was so intense that she had very little time at her disposal. When she finally found an hour or two to devote to the job, she applied herself in the following spirit: ‘I choose to be interrupted.’ If a good Sister then came by to ask her for some little service, instead of coldly sending her away Thérèse made the effort to accept the interruption with good grace. And if nobody interrupted her, she considered that a charming present from her loving God and was very grateful to him.” -Interior Freedom, 56