Choosing the Best Thing

I recently finished reading the book "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" by Joanna Weaver. I had read the book several years ago, but felt compelled to pull it off the shelf and read it again. The subtitle is "Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life". Certainly easier said than done, wouldn't you agree?

This book is based on the account of Mary and Martha, two sisters from Bethany, and a visit Jesus made to their home. You can find their story in Luke, chapter 10. The premise of the book is based around what Jesus said to the two sisters......"Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, and Mary has chosen the good part." You see, Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus while Martha was running around in the kitchen, distracted from her Guest by making preparations for all the other guests.

How often I find myself distracted.....by the pressures of life, by commitments and responsibilities, by the busyness of life, by whatever has captured my attention at the moment......distracted by the "tyranny of the urgent". This book is not a deep theological exegesis of this passage....rather, it is practical advice on how to make intimacy with God a reality in the busyness of our modern lives. It helps us to understand that this intimacy is a choice and a process. That it requires intentionality on our part. No matter how much we long for a Mary heart, we still live in a Martha world. We have to carve out time to sit at the feet of Jesus.

One of the practical suggestions offered in the book comes from another author, Robin Jones Gunn, a Christian novelist, who shares that she lights a candle for her time alone with Jesus. The candle becomes both a signal to her family that she is meeting with the Lord as well as a symbol of the intimacy of the moment, meeting with the Light of the World. What a powerful visual symbol. We often light candles for special occasions, intimate dinners, when guests are coming. How fitting that we would light the candle as we sit down for intimate conversation with our Savior! I think I'll adopt this idea, beginning today.

Lord Jesus, the prayer of my heart is deeper intimacy in my relationship with you. Help me not be distracted by the busyness and/or the sillyness of life. Help me to choose the best thing. Amen.