My plans are too often disrupted
I’ll choose then to be interrupted
I’ll hoist up in prayer
Each day this bold choice
Then joy will cascade uncorrupted

Surprises, each day guarantees
(Old Murphy’s most mischievous deeds)
When prior they’re welcomed
Not curveball, nor fire
Will ire or pilfer my peace

Each monkey wrench tossed in my face
Invites me the cross to embrace
These tiny denials
And trials without whining
Refine my rough ego with grace

Bear fruit from intrusions: pre-choose ’em!

As a Friend once pre-chose to give all

When plans are all dashed

With mayhem ensuing

That Friend will intrude with His peace unsurpassed

With His laugh that disrupts and His look that will crush all your brooding

***

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