You just might miss the point
Trying to win the race
Life’s not the breathes you take
But the moments that take your breath away. ~ George Strait
Jesus was on his way to a village with his disciples, and as they arrived a woman named Martha invited him into her home. Martha apparently shared her home with her sister Mary, who happened to be there.
As Jesus sat and spoke, Mary sat at his feet and became totally consumed with everything about him, clinging to his every word. As this was happening, Martha was frantically tidying the place up. We can almost hear Martha mumbling in the background, “Forgive me, this place is a mess! I just cleaned a few days ago, but it’s a never-ending battle!”
While Martha was distracted in her pursuit of making everything perfect, she saw that Mary was preoccupied with Jesus. She became bothered by this and told Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Jesus replied, “Martha, Martha… you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)
As I read today’s passage of Scripture, it causes me to reflect on the many instances that I too have allowed distractions of some sort to overshadow incredibly significant moments in my own life. A good friend’s wedding ceremony, or time spent playing catch in the backyard with a son; a daughter’s graduation from college, or a wife’s promotion in her career; moments that seem to come sparingly throughout a lifetime, moments that were meant to be experienced and enjoyed, not overlooked and put in the dustbin of faint remembrances…
On a much deeper, spiritual level, how many times in my life has the presence of the Lord happened upon me when I’ve been too busy or too preoccupied to even recognize? A moment when God is desperately trying to get my attention, trying to reveal His splendor, His glory, His Awe, His Majesty, His love and mercy to me? Do I make myself available to Him, so that He and I can share His moments and presence together?
Today’s Question: Am I going to have an open and expectant heart like Mary? Or am I going to be like Martha and allow the busyness of life to distract me from God’s presence and goodness?
Former Blackout Artist 