October 23, 2021

Interruptions - the Real Substance by Joy Bailey



I'm bad with interruptions, but I'm trying to do better. I'm trying to be ... less annoyed. 

I'm convinced it gets easier once one has grandchildren. 

My grandchildren don't live near me so when they video-call, I drop everything to see their sweet faces, to read them a book, or to chat about the new bandaid on their eyebrow. 

There is little else I will accept as an interruption, but I'm working on that.

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A few people have quoted C.S. Lewis this month on the blog. However, I keep thinking about an interview I saw with Lewis's stepson, Douglas Gresham. In the interview Gresham describes what it was like to live with C.S. Lewis. About nine and a half minutes in, interviewer Derick Bingham asks, "Was he hard to live with while he was writing?"

Douglas Gresham doesn't hesitate even slightly when he answers, "Not at all. He was the opposite. Jack was someone who would accept interruption, every ten minutes, if necessary, while he was working very hard at a book or something, without the slightest degree of irritation. He was able to believe, and to behave as if he believed, which he did, that our own personal work is nowhere near as important as the interruptions to it. The interruptions are the real substance of God's job for us."  

I find this remarkable. It's one thing to write a memorable comment that people quote decades later in a writing blog, and something else entirely to have lived it. Extraordinary.

*****

This week I haven't been interrupted by any grandchild video calls at all, because I've been hanging out with them in person! In fact, the only interruption to our fun was the deadline for this blog post, which I almost completely forgot about until the last minute. Real life can be annoying sometimes. 😄  


~ Find the full interview with Douglas Gresham here. ~




Joy is writing from a lovely home in Saskatchewan, where she's been painting princesses, filling small dump trucks with sticks & leaves, and building forts out of throw pillows. Find more of her joy-infused view of the world at Scraps of Joy.  

13 comments:

  1. What a delightful post, dear Joy. I look forward to listening to the interview link you included after I share this on our InScribe Facebook page and group.
    Your "last minute" post is a perfect example of how wonderful a work from the heart is when writers interrupt real life and apply themselves for a few minutes to their craft. Well done. This blessed me as I too was able to hang out with a little person for a day of fun and hugs this week. Grandchildren are the grandest way to take breaks from our regular routines. :)
    Blessings ~ Wendy Mac

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    1. It's true, Wendy, grandchildren change things. I wasn't nearly this happy to be interrupted by my children. haha

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  2. In my eyes, C.S. Lewis is a gentle giant of the faith - a favourite of mine. He really did walk in the fruit of the spirit. I think I may have listened to that interview, but I don't mind a second chance to hear it again.

    Loved your post, Joy. I felt that breezy freshness as you turned interruptions inside out to give us another perspective.

    Glad you are having such fun with your grands!
    Brenda xo


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    2. Brenda, the way C.S Lewis lived his life really does amaze me. We can all aspire to walk in the fruit of the spirit as he did. :)

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  3. What John Lennon, ex member of The Quarrymen and The Plastic Ono Band, said that life is what happens to you while you're making other plans. Of course I have a kitten now so he interrupts me often. I too am trying to be patient with his kittenish ways.

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    1. Bruce, there's nothing like a kitten for interruptions to play. :)

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  4. This just reminded me of Petticoat Junction where each of the girls interrupted Mom and she put in too much baking soda into the biscuits. Seems like my mind is the worst for interrupting me, especially in my prayers. It's like a dog on a walk who runs off after some temptation and then comes back.

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  5. I loved this post! It made me stop and think about the annoyance of interruptions in my own life but the realization that usually they are actually more important than whatever else I was doing... (like your grandchildren example.) In fact, I got interrupted part way through reading this post by a video call from my daughter and grandson.

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    1. Hi Tracy. I'm very slowly learning to turn away from being annoyed, and rather welcome those interruptions. Besides, they make life more interesting. :)

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  6. Hi Joy! I always look forward to what your heart shares with us. The thought of you being with your grands as you write warms my Papa heart. I love being with my grandchildren as well. Take care of yourself, Joy. I look forward to even more joyous words from you, dear friend. :)

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    1. Thank you, Alan. It's been such a special week with these dear ones. They fill up my tank, and I'm ready to carry on with regular life. :)

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  7. Love this post!! Appreciated the insight of Doug Gresham and your challenge to also view interruptions as the greater gift. Wow!

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