Wednesday Reflection
Our path.
Many of us, as we become ‘more mature’, find it essential to have a to do list so we can remember what needs to be done? Even down to – ‘take the library books back’ or ‘it’s Wednesday – post a reflection.’
Although it seems that nearly everyone in every stage of life these days has lots of tasks to juggle, especially if you are responsible for others;- in your family, amongst your friends, those in the generations younger than you or in the generations older than you; in your team at work; in the congregation you are part of.
The list, although useful and even essential can be overwhelming.
The demands for doing things seems to grow.
There are tasks that must be done, tasks that ought to be done, and things we would like to do when there is a spare moment.
We can be in danger of measuring our lives in a succession of task boxes ticked, a list of jobs achieved.
How do we decide what is right for ourselves? What is urgent? What can be deferred? What doesn’t need doing at all?
How do we know what God has put before us as our special tasks in His plans?
And how do we know what is getting in the way of taking what would be a better path?
This is the conundrum of the story of Martha and Mary, one who got the dinner ready and one who sat and listened to Jesus for a while.
This is the balance in Jesus life; he was very busy, surrounded with people, meeting needs, teaching but he also moved to quiet places to pray and to recharge, to focus again on his special tasks.
2 weeks ago we posted a poem for Mission which started with this statement
Through our understanding of Christ’s own mission,
we seek to listen, learn and love.
Taking time with God to pray, to listen, to move aside from that list that drives us forward will lead to learning and to love, to regaining our focus and strength.