"Being Intentional"
Luke 10:38-42 ESV
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Martha was busy in the taskiness of life (I know that’s not a real word, but it works). There were real things that HAD to get done, especially with an important guest. But Mary recognized that there was a unique opportunity. One that she might not have another chance at. So while Martha kept her nose to the grindstone, Mary paused to soak in the moment.
So, I have been considering Mary and Martha and the interaction they shared with Jesus when He visited their home. Now, dads! Don’t check out, because I think this applies to both moms and dads. For most of us, we currently have an opportunity where our families are home together more often then, I’m guessing, most of us are used to. It is a big change! And change can be uncomfortable and make us feel unsettled. But, the question is...are you using this opportunity to create changes that you want to maintain after the dust settles? Are there things that, prior to this crisis, you wish you had the time to change?
What are the day to day tasks that keep us busy and distracted?
What are we being distracted from?
What opportunity are we missing out on?
What are some ways that you can create space to pause and soak in this moment?
I just want to encourage you to be intentional in this moment. Despite the reason for this shift, we are still creating lasting memories. We have an opportunity to invest in and shift some of our family dynamics. At some point the doors will reopen, options will be endless, and the busyness will return. We will have the choice to return to our old normal, or invest now in deciding on a new normal. Choose the “good portion”.
Pastor Marissa Heffernan