Choose the Best of What a Busy Day Offers You
by Emily Conrad
I spoke at a conference last weekend. My Justice galley is due tomorrow. A house guest is coming for the weekend. I need to prep blog posts. I need to clean. I have had a busy couple of weeks, and the fun isn't over yet.
As I think about the to-do list that daunts me, I remember Martha and her bustling work, and Mary, who sat and listened and whose choice was defended by none other than Jesus Himself.
We've all heard the story many times, and, to be honest, it's a little frustrating.
There is so much work to be done. The same Bible that contains Mary and Martha admonishes us to serve. Wouldn't doing what Mary did be the equivalent of reading our Bibles all day and finishing none of our other responsibilities? Wouldn't that be irresponsible?
Yet this attitude puts me on the opposite side of the situation from Jesus, and that's a dangerous place to be.
So, I look again at the familiar story.
She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he said. But Martha was distracted with all the preparations she had to make (Matthew 10:39-40a, NET)
Distracted. Martha was distracted. That implies to me that she knew she was supposed to focus on Jesus's teaching the way Mary did. She meant to listen to Him, to spend time with Him. She really did.
But, oh, she'd forgotten to baste the chicken. And oh, look at that cobweb. And the dog tracked what into the house?
Read more »
I spoke at a conference last weekend. My Justice galley is due tomorrow. A house guest is coming for the weekend. I need to prep blog posts. I need to clean. I have had a busy couple of weeks, and the fun isn't over yet.
As I think about the to-do list that daunts me, I remember Martha and her bustling work, and Mary, who sat and listened and whose choice was defended by none other than Jesus Himself.
We've all heard the story many times, and, to be honest, it's a little frustrating.
There is so much work to be done. The same Bible that contains Mary and Martha admonishes us to serve. Wouldn't doing what Mary did be the equivalent of reading our Bibles all day and finishing none of our other responsibilities? Wouldn't that be irresponsible?
Yet this attitude puts me on the opposite side of the situation from Jesus, and that's a dangerous place to be.
So, I look again at the familiar story.
She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he said. But Martha was distracted with all the preparations she had to make (Matthew 10:39-40a, NET)
Distracted. Martha was distracted. That implies to me that she knew she was supposed to focus on Jesus's teaching the way Mary did. She meant to listen to Him, to spend time with Him. She really did.
But, oh, she'd forgotten to baste the chicken. And oh, look at that cobweb. And the dog tracked what into the house?
Read more »
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