I do not know why I am still surprised that God choses to teach me lessons in a very practical way. He has been doing that for years. It seems like anything I'm studying becomes the lesson I'm living.
My experience reading Interrupted has fallen right in line.
It's the end of summer and since I still have pre-schoolers, I have to wait longer than most for "school" to start. To say I feel broken and poured out would be an understatement. Having an almost 5 and a terrible 2 in one house has been a recipe for disaster the last several weeks.
I am constantly pouring out to someone…between requests for cups, snacks, helping with the potty, finding constant entertainment, not to mention laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, summer travel, and did I mention I have an actual job!
Broken seems to be feeling that remains at night when I finally sit down. I feel broken over all the failings of the day, broken over things I never got to, broken because, at times, I question what it's all for, and, if I'm honest, broken because those two small humans can actually hurt me. Disobediance, harsh words, flashes of anger, disrespect...it hurts no matter the size of the offender.
Enter Interrupted right on cue!
The next section if Hatmaker's book is all about being broken and poured out and it starts with an explanation of communion.
She says, "Communion is more than a memory, more than a reverent moment when we recall Jesus' heroic sacrifice. Remembrance means honoring Jesus' mercy mission with tangible, physical action since it was a tangible, physical sacrifice. In other words, 'Constantly make this real'... Not only was communion a symbolic ritual, it was a new prototype of discipleship. 'Continually make My sacrifice real by doing this very thing.' Become broken and poured out for hopeless people. Become a living offering, denying yourself for the salvation and restoration of humanity."
Hopeless people, yep, got those right in my own home. I know she is talking about a bigger pricture here. She is talking about more than just my middle class, white, American family. I get that. But we have to start changing our thinking from the inside out. I first have to see myself as a hopeless person without Jesus. I needed Him to do the saving! And next, I have to see my family the same way. My husband was just like me...hopeless without Jesus. My kids are still hopeless because they have not yet accept Jesus as their Savior. (Oh, how I hate typing that...Jesus save my kids at an early age!!)
Hatmaker's challenge is to become a "living offering"; pouring ourselves out for others in real ways. This is going to cost us!
Being poured out, broken, that's going to hurt! It will require things of us we never intended to give. It may require lack of sleep, loss of money, laying down our pride, putting aside our preferences, giving up our lifestyles. Hatmaker goes on to explain, "Death in me = life in you. Broken so someone else is fed. 'Feed my lambs.'"
See how it fits together?
First, we must recognize the need and the call to action. Then, we must answer the call, not with words but with our very selves.
Hatmaker goes on to explain who we should be broken and poured out for.
Want to know who she describes?
It's probably not who you think! It's so good….I wish I could just give everyone a copy of this book or either quote everything she says! Seriously, it's a must read!
Speaking of giving everyone a copy…I can't give you all a copy but I can give one person a copy. The winner of the giveaway is S. Lewis. Please email me at janiehoskins@gmail.com Be sure to include your full name and mailing address and I will get Interrupted into your hands!
