"The Signs Don't Work"

Reflect
"How do you like all my signs?" My wife said, "We’re not Fort Knox." And she is right. I have an over-the-top collection of signs posted front of my house: Alarm sign, Beware of Dog, No Solicitors, Security Camera. It screams, “If you’re not my guest, don’t come here.” My hope is that the signs would keep away everyone from solar sales reps to religious recruiters, but Girl Scout cookies are still welcome. :)

But despite all the signs and my efforts, my doorbell constantly rings. One day, while working from home, a solar salesperson came by. He passed all the signs and rang the bell. I said, "Hello" with the most unwelcome tone. I told him I didn't need solar. But the salesperson wouldn’t stop talking. After I gave him answers, he came back with more questions again and again. And I lost it. My voice was sharp and angry. I told him to leave and never come back—and I shut the door.

Later, I rationalized it as righteous anger. But in truth? It was just irritation. And thankfully, he didn’t ask what I do for a living.

Return
The next morning, the Spirit led me to reflect. I confessed my outward anger.

But why did I get so angry? What was beneath that anger?

I had to repent of the deeper sin behind my anger with the solar guy: I believed that I’m too important to be disrupted. That people are an inconvenience. Yes, solicitors are annoying. But that man at my door was a fellow image-bearer—and I failed to show humanity.

Receive
And as I repented, the Spirit led me to remember the good news of Jesus Christ: My worth doesn’t come from uninterrupted days. My identity isn’t found in how "efficient" or "productive" I am. In Christ, I am a beloved child of God, fully known and fully loved—so I don't need to manufacture my own sense of importance. As a child of God, I share in the inheritance of the Son who was constantly interrupted by needy, broken people, yet responded with compassion.

Romans 8:17 says, "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ." That promise calmed me again. That promise changed me again.

Rest
With the gospel fresh in my heart, I found peace, joy and confidence in my Father's love for me again. Once more, I loved being in my Abba Father's house. 

Respond
That morning, I prayed for the solar salesman. I asked God to bless his day, to provide for his family, and to help him do his work with integrity.

May every disruption be a journey back to Abba's House.