East Orrington Congregational Church August / September 2025

Pen of Power

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Holy Interruptions and Summer Detours

There’s something about August that makes even the busiest among us slow down. Maybe it’s the heat, maybe  it’s the pull of one last ice cream cone or ear of corn. Or maybe it’s that God knows we need a breather before fall comes barreling in with its backpacks, meetings, and pumpkin-flavored everything. August invites us to pause. But what happens when even in the middle of our rest, life still interrupts?

In Mark 5, Jesus is on His way to heal a dying girl, a top-priority mission if there ever was one. But along the way, He’s interrupted by a woman who desperately needs healing. Jesus doesn’t brush her off or tell her to make an appointment. He stops. Listens. Heals. And yes, while He’s delayed, the little girl dies. But Jesus simply looks at the girl’s father and says, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:36,)

Then He raises her from the dead.

Jesus never saw interruptions as obstacles. He saw them as opportunities. And maybe, just maybe, that  neighbor who waves you down while you’re grilling dinner, or that phone call during your hammock nap, or that nudge in your spirit to check in on someone you know, when you’re trying to “relax”, maybe that’s your holy detour.

God doesn’t wait for your calendar to clear before moving. He shows up in the slow, in the still, and even in the heat of August when you’d rather just melt into your lawn chair.

So here’s your August challenge:

Ask God each morning, “What divine interruption do You have planned for me today?”

And then, whether you’re mowing the lawn or watching clouds drift by, stay open. You just might find that the most sacred moments don’t come during your scheduled “God time” but somewhere between the second helping of potato salad and the unexpected knock at the door.

Summer may be slow, but God’s work is never on pause. So next time your day gets hijacked, ask yourself: Could this be a holy moment in disguise?