Martha and Mary

Life is a funny thing.

I wonder if God sometimes sees us scurrying around on the earth like a bunch of ants when their hill has been kicked over. We run around trying to accomplish so much with our lives - to get everything done, to make ourselves or others happy. We wind up anxious, stressed out and tired. And it seems the "to-do" list is never finished - there are never enough hours in the week and when there is time, sometimes we are just too tired to do it.

God has been speaking to me, I think because my mind keeps getting drawn back to the words of Jesus: "...you are worried...about many things, but only one thing is needed." (Luke 10:41b-42a) It was the words he spoke to Martha when she was busily trying to get everything done and was frustrated by Mary's lack of help (she was sitting by Jesus, listening to him).

I feel Martha's pain. I feel like there's a million things that need to be done and that need to be done well - with care, a good effort and effective results. These things are on my mind like a never ending "to-do" list which threatens to overwhelm me at times.

source:  http://wallpapersinfos.blogspot.ca/2012/06/milky-way-galaxy-wallpaper.html 

I think I need reminding from time to time that God is in control, not me. That day Jesus pointed out that Mary was doing the right thing - the more important thing. It's a reminder that I need to let go of things that are not really a priority, focus on the things that God has called me to do, and simply trust God to take care of the rest of it.

In my one class, the teacher's computer desktop background was showing on the screen and as he was teaching he noticed that several of us were drawn/distracted by it. He looked over to see what was grabbing our attention and said something like: "Oh that? It's just the cosmos, it will unfold as it should."

Well put. Yes God is in control and I am not. Thank goodness for that.

Lord help me to be more like Mary and less like Martha - help me to do the things that matter and leave the rest in your hands. Amen.