A note from Fr. Scott
Last Sunday was a picture perfect Mother’s day. Weather-wise, I mean. Many years on Mother’s Day the weather is
less than cooperative, but that wasn’t the case this past Sunday. It was pleasantly beautiful; a perfect day to
be outdoors.
So what did I do?
Well, I spent time with my mother at my brother and
sister-in-law’s house. Inside. Watching golf. I’m not really a golf fanatic by any means,
but certain tournaments carry more prestige than others; those I watch when I can. (The Tournament Players Champion, which took
place last week, is one of those tournaments.)
It’s
similar to the millions of people who watch the Super Bowl, but that’s the only
football game they watch all year, or the millions who watch the Kentucky
Derby, but that’s the only horse race they watch all year.
Martin Kaymer and Jordan Spieth started
the day tied, but as the holes went by, Mr. Spieth faltered and Mr. Kaymer took
a 4 shot lead heading into the homestretch.
He looked to be in a groove that would easily lead to victory. And then it happened. The horn blew, indicating the approach of
dangerous weather. Play got suspended
for well over an hour.
By
the time they resumed play, Mr. Kaymer had lost his groove and began to play
much more ordinary. He lost a couple of
strokes; Jim Furyk’s clubhouse lead looked like it might get him the win. As I watched the last part, I couldn’t help
but wonder what Mr. Kaymer was thinking or would think if he lost. Would he blame the weather for his collapse? Would he blame God for the change of
fortune?
I
thought those things because I think that that’s how I would have reacted. An unexpected interruption changed
things. I would have claimed “It’s not
fair! I would have won if things played
out as they should have!” (“As they
should”? Who determines the way things
“should” be?)
In
truth, many things in life get interrupted.
That means we have to change our plans, perhaps not accomplishing what
we set out to do. Our original goal
doesn’t get met. Some of us (many of us)
don’t like to have to adjust to interruptions or unplanned happenings. Maybe we don’t like it because it’s a
reminder we aren’t in control. The
unexpected and the unplanned messes up our plans for the day (sometimes even
for our lives).
But
if we think about it, aren’t interruptions more the rule than the
exception? Not many of my days go
exactly as planned. And why should
they? I very much believe that God uses
those unexpected interruptions to teach us something. We want to do such and such, but maybe God
wants us to do something else. Every
interruption is actually an opportunity.
Maybe God wants to teach us something (patience perhaps?) or maybe God
wants to use us to be of service in the life of someone else. Being too “planned” can block us from
responding to an opportunity God wants to give us.
A
golfer may whine about the delay caused by weather, but a good golfer knows
unexpected things might happen and learns to adjust. (By the way, Mr. Kaymer did hold on for a
one-shot victory.) A Catholic Christian
may whine about the challenge of unexpected happenings, but a good Catholic
Christian expects the unexpected and learns to adjust by realizing the
unexpected happening is a God-given opportunity for something good (self-growth
or service to another).
It’s
all in how we look at it. We might
perceive interruptions as annoyances, but in reality they are more often than
not opportunities.
Have
a blessed week . . . and if
interruptions occur, make the best of them!
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