Divine Interuptions

Sometimes a Deviation to the Plan is the Plan

I was thinking about my dad this week and how he used to talk about Divine Interuptions.

A Divine Interuption is when some unexpected event takes you off your intended path. At first it seems like you are flailing about trying to figure out how to navigate this new reality. But then, you realize that the interuption was the path all along.

Photo by Yeshi Kangrang on Unsplash

Back in January, my husband and I became temporary caregivers for this little guy. (I am stepping out of my comfort zone and allowing you to see a picture of me with glasses and no makeup.)

I have never considered being a mom my best skill. So I was not at all confident I would be able to handle this new reality, even though I knew it was temporary.

I had to change the hours that I saw clients. I had to eliminate some things that took a lot of planning and focus. I had to move stuff around to accomodate his belongings. I had to shift the way we ate food and exercised. I had to continually wipe pee off of the toilet seat if I wanted to avoid a wet butt. I had to learn how to help him with spelling and reading and all the things that required a completely different skillset from the way I was accustomed to using my brain.

Somewhere along the line, I realized that, most likely, the interuption was the plan all along.

If you are navigating a Divine Interuption, let me encourage you to shift the way you are thinking a bit and consider the idea that maybe you should stop resisting and surrender to the new normal.

I found that the more I resisted, the more I struggled. And because he is a gifted child and apparently sees auras, (he calls them halos), he called me out on myself every time I was ‘off.’

I love the Buddhist principle that struggle comes from our desires for things to be different from what they are.

That does not mean we do not work to change the things we don’t prefer. It simply means we do not allow our current reality to steal our joy.

So if your reality is not what you would prefer, then make a plan, yes. Take action when there is something you can do to shift your reality. (and there is always something you can do!) But decide to be joyful and accepting of what your current reality is without sinking into dispair.

Each day, we are offered a new opportunity to be a blessing to someone else and to live our life with joy and purpose. If something has occurred that you have no ability to change, the best you can do is decide to accept the new reality with joy and determination to do the best job you can at creating your best life with the new reality.

In a few days, we will take a journey to Texas and assist him in transitioning to his new life there with a loving family complete with new brothers, a sister, three dogs and a pool. I am sure it will be much preferred over two older adults with no knowledge of video games or pop culture.

Let me encourage you to accept Divine Interuptions when they appear, not with dispair or resignation, but with love and joy. Do what you need to do to navigate the interuption, take action to change the situation if that seems like the best path forward, and decide to find joy in the journey no matter where it leads.