Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

— Philippians 2:4 (KJV)

When I have a plan for the day, I can start treating every interruption as something to get past. Somebody else’s question arrives while I’m trying to finish my own task, and I’m already thinking about how quickly I can get back to it.

This verse makes me consider what the moment looks like from their side. They might have been trying to figure out when to ask. They might need something that only takes a minute once I understand it.

I can ask what they need before deciding how much time I have. If I need to come back later, I can give them a time and remember to follow through. That little bit of attention helps me see the person as well as the interruption.