A Word to Live Into

To flow is to move - to glide.

To flow is to go somewhere and come from somewhere.

To flow is not to be stuck.

You can flow or be in the flow.

You may ebb and flow.

You can be interruptible or uninterruptible.

It’s often a balancing act.

There are seasons of our lives with lots of interruptions. You know what yours are. And sometimes, there are unexpected interruptions—an illness, the weather, a sudden pressing need. Interruptions can make you frustrated, irritated, or stressed. Of course, there is often a person connected to an interruption. The way we deal with interruptions matters.

We can learn a lot from the smartest person I know, Jesus. He was often interrupted. A woman interrupted him as he was on his way to heal a girl who was dying. A group of friends interrupted him by lowering a man from the roof before him while he was teaching. A blind man yelled out to him, interrupting him as he was going to the next town to do his work. If you turn to the shortest Gospel account, Mark, you’ll find Jesus is interrupted more than 30 times, and those are just the interruptions that are recorded.

How did he handle interruptions?

He noticed them. He had compassion on the people who interrupted him. He dwelt with them intentionally. Sometimes he went with the flow and was interruptible. Sometimes he stayed in his flow and was uninterruptible.

An interruption can be an opportunity to see or serve someone or an invitation to share love, hope, or kindness.

An interruption can also be a distraction. The Gospel writer Mark tells us that an entire town interrupted Jesus. We learn that the whole town gathered at his door. Can you imagine? He helped as many as he could before everyone needed to go and get some sleep. But Jesus got up early and prayed while it was still dark. When he came back, the crowds were there again. Everyone was looking for him. This time, he was uninterruptible. He said, “Let’s keep going to the next village so that I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” (Mk1:32-38)

There will always be things to do, people in need, demands on your time, energy, and resources. There will always be many things to distract you. We need to discern how to flow forward well and focus on what is ours to do today.

In the Bible, flow refers to the dynamic and continuous flow of God’s presence in our lives and the world. He provides and sustains, and from Him all blessings flow. God makes streams of living water available to us.

There is an image of this that I love. Every time I read it, I feel something flow in me. It’s found in Psalm 46. Before we get to the image, we learn that God is our refuge and strength. We learn that God is a very present help to us. We know that because this is true, we do not need to be afraid. (v 1-2)

Then the Psalmist helps us feel what it is like to experience God as our refuge and strength. We learn what it feels like to live without fear. It is living in the flow:

“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

God is within her; she will not fail;

God will help her at break of day.

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;

He lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

(Psalm 46:4-7)

Can you see it?  There is a river where streams of living water flow from God. He is the stream. He is the source of life, strength, and gladness. We can stand in the river and experience God’s gladness flowing all around us. We can be still in the stream and know that God is with us. We can experience his power, which will never fail, flowing around us and through us.

We can flow and stay in the flow.

We can be interruptible.

We can be uninterruptible.

We can go with the flow of the river of God.

Let it flow in you.

How to live into the word flow…

1. Consider - What do I need to work on - being interruptible or uninterruptible?

   
   

2. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow” is a phrase from a hymn. What blessings are flowing to me? What can I praise God for today?

   
   

3. For the rest of this month, pause for one minute each day (or longer if you can) and stand in the river flowing with the gladness of God. Pause in the morning. Pause when interruptions come your way. Just be with God and let his gladness and power flow with you.