We don't always know what God will ask of us, and that's why we need to be open to disruptions to our own plans, trusting that He always has us where we need to be.
I wonder if God ever feels that frustration when we wonder things like, "If I get to Mass during the offertory, does it still count?" or "How many minutes do I have to pray every day?"
His is a story of conversion, one that calls to mind Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32). As often happens, Thomas' trouble began when he went away to college and his faith became lukewarm.