the great interrupter
a short-story about the relentless love of the Father
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The gentle tap of a hand on the door woke Jane from her depressive trance. The thought of human interaction made her heart sink in her chest. Panicking, she rushed around her home, throwing grimy dishes onto the toppling stack in the sink. There was the obvious mess, her dirty clothes scattered on the floor, the disheveled couch pillows, the overflowing trash, and there was also the underlying wear on the house itself, dust lining the trim, leaks in the ceiling, lights flickering. Jane’s home was barely holding it together, and so was Jane.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I know, I know. she thought. You’re at the door.
Giving up on the state of her house, Jane shuffled through her cluttered entryway and opened the door just enough to peer around the corner.
“What do you want?” she said, annoyance coating her tone.
Before her stood an older man, slightly bent with age, in evergreen work boots and denim dungarees. He looked homely with an unshaven beard, soft face, and kind brown eyes peering out under his thick, gray eyebrows. When he caught her face around the edge of the door, he smiled from ear to ear.
“Oh hello, miss! How good to see you. I’m Jessie and I couldn’t help but notice your overgrown yard. You see, it looks like a jungle out here!” He laughed to himself, gesturing behind him. “But I’ve got a passion for yard work, miss. And, well, I’ve got a passion for mending all kinds of things… but I figure I’ll start with the yard. Trust me, it’s not the first of its kind! I’m very experienced.”
Jane was stunned. His enthusiasm was a lot to process. Wow. She thought. I don’t need this right now… Is my yard really that bad?
In truth, Jane didn’t know what her yard looked like. She hadn’t left the house in quite some time… but who cares? She wasn’t having any guests over and she would never admit that she needed help.
Decision made, Jane set her mind and spoke without a hint of mercy, “I like my yard just fine as it is, thank you very much.” and she shut the door in his face.
Urg… old people are crazy, she thought, and went about the rest of her day with the blinds shut. She did not want to look out the window and be forced to acknowledge the reality of her yard, or worse, make eye contact with that old man, Jessie.
Three days later, as Jane was pulling out a shirt from her dirty laundry to wear for the day, she once again heard that uncommon and unpleasant sound.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
You’re kidding. I already said no!
Jane threw on a stained shirt from the bin and ignored the visitor. No second attempt was made to get her attention, and all was silent in her home.
Hmph, she thought. Good. He’s gone.
Curious but not wanting to be caught by a visitor, Jane tip-toed her way down the stairs toward her front door and peered through the small window at its center.
There was no one there.
Good. She didn’t want to see anyone anyway. But as her porch came into full view she caught sight of a quaint little basket on her doorstep.
Jane pulled open the door and brought the basket inside. There was a note attached and something wrapped in cloth inside.
Dear Jane,
I restored your yard! I could not, in good conscience, leave it as it was. I promise, it was my joy to do it and you owe me nothing. I couldn’t help but notice your roof needs mending. If you’ll have me, I would love to repair that next. All I ask in return is for some time together. There are cinnamon rolls in the basket. I am grabbing coffee.
Be back in ten.Jessie
He did what?!
Jane placed the basket back on the porch and hurried out to her yard.
It had been transformed.
Never in her life had she seen anything so lovely. Jessie had crafted garden beds and filled them with flowers. He had planted trees and dispersed pebbles along the ground to form a path. There was even a bistro table and chairs underneath the Crape Myrtle tree in the far right of her yard.
Jane was stunned.
She took a deep breath to calm herself and was immediately soothed by the scent of freshly cut grass and sweet florals. She closed her eyes. The early morning sun warmed her face. Her mind was full of questions. She had no idea why all of this work had just been done. But for the moment, just being outside in a beautiful place had captured her full attention. It was a good feeling. Jane looked down at her bare feet in the prickly grass and smiled. Who knew her yard could look this good! She couldn’t control the laughter that began pouring out of her. What a way to start the day.
“There you are!”
Jane spun around in surprise. It was Jessie, smiling and walking toward her with two cups of coffee in his hands. Dirt stains covered his once clean dungarees and his cheeks were extra rosy from the sun.
“I was hoping to find you out here.” He said, eyes bright with energy and life.
“You brought me a coffee?” Jane asked tentatively, her heart softening at the sight of the cup in his hand.
“Of course! Can’t start a work day without it. And don’t worry, dear Jane, I added milk, just like you like.”
He added milk?
She slowly formed the word “thanks” as she took the coffee from his hands, feeling slightly creeped out by his knowledge of her drink preference. But when she looked curiously up again into his sun-beaten face and carefree smile, she couldn’t muster any fear. This was not an evil man. She felt it in her very heart. Jessie was good. There was a genuineness about him that kept her from prodding further.
“So, Jane.” He said, cheery as ever, “Did you read my note? Am I welcome to work on your roof?”
She turned her eyes to the shallowly steeped roof and the shambley shingles scattered across its terrace.
Yikes. Jane laughed again.
“You restored my yard and brought me coffee and cinnamon rolls. Now you want to repair my roof? I don’t understand. Why?”
Jessie grew earnest, he paused for a moment and spoke.
“Jane, it brought me joy to do this for you. I know that may surprise you, but it is the truth. I have found that the work of restoration always results in more life. It may be difficult and hard, even painful at times, but the reward is life. That is what I want for you. More than anything. I want you to experience more life, joy, and freedom.”
Jessie took a deep breath and closed his eyes. All was quiet as she waited for him to finish. When he turned and looked at her again, there were tears of affection in his eyes. Jane was both surprised and touched by his display of emotion. What had she done to deserve this man’s love?
“Jane,” Jessie said again, looking her right in the eye, “you’ve been hurting and you’ve been hiding. Your unkempt yard and home are like walls in your heart, keeping people away. But I see you, Jane. I see your heart. And I am here to draw you out into the light, to heal your broken places and your home, and to be your friend. If you’ll have me, of course.” he added with a smile.
Jane was slow to respond, contemplating his words. It was as though the door in her heart was slowly inching open.
“Can you promise that you want nothing in return?” Jane asked. She knew that whatever Jessie might want from her, eventually, she would let him down. Such was life, and Jane was oh, so tired of letting people down.
“No, Jane. I can’t promise that.” he said gently.
“But I do not ask for that which you do not have or more than you’re willing to give. I ask for your time, and I promise that I will always make our time together intentional, starting today with cinnamon rolls and coffee!” Jessie smiled at her, the wrinkles around his eyes evidence of a lifetime of cheer. He had a genuinely happy heart.
Jane couldn’t deny her interest. She was hooked both by the mysteriousness of his character and the genuineness of his offer. Strangely enough, she didn’t want to push this man away.
“Ok” she said tentatively.
“You can give the roof a go and I’ll pay you back by enjoying this breakfast with you. But just so you know, I think you might be crazy. Maybe good crazy, but that has yet to be decided.”
Jessie laughed and said, “Oh Jane, it’s a deal.” and they shook on it.
“Let’s eat.”
Jane grabbed the basket of cinnamon rolls and they sat under the myrtle tree overlooking her new yard.
I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
John 12:46
In Jane’s heart, a light turned on.
Where loneliness had once shrouded her heart with darkness, there was now a bright and glimmering hope: the beginning of a friendship that would change everything. And for the first time in Jane’s life, though she hardly knew it yet, she glimpsed the loving heart of the Father.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
John 15:16-17
Thank you for reading, friends! I hope you enjoyed this short story and that it encouraged you. It’s been sweet to wade into this new style of writing with the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
The Father is the great interrupter.
The joy of his presence is more real and tangible than anything I have experienced on earth. His love awakens sleeping hearts. He surprises us with joy as he reveals himself and heaven touches earth.
When I first met the Father, he healed my depression in a moment. Like Jane, my heart wasn’t open to receiving him when he first knocked on my door. It was a revelation of his relentless love through scripture that softened my heart to receive him. Praise the Lord!
The Father is patient and he takes initiative. We do not choose him, but he chooses us and invites us into the most transformative friendship of our lives.
I want to leave you with two questions to consider today:
Is the Father knocking on the door of your heart? What is holding you back from letting him in?
Where has the Father’s love touched your life in a restorative way in the past few weeks?
I encourage you to take these questions to your journal with the Holy Spirit. Nothing has brought more understanding or clarity to my own heart than writing! The Father can reveal so much through our honest vulnerability with pen on page.
With so much love and gratitude!
ma