Running on empty! Day 16 Lent 2015

Day 16 Lent 2015

"She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying."  Luke 10.39

She?  Who is she?  That would be Martha who is also a friend and follower of Jesus. Martha and Mary are not only sisters but locked together for eternity as the polar opposites of discipleship.  Martha was a doer!  A type "A" go getter that didn't have time for folks not pulling their own weight when there was work to be done.  Mary on the other hand is the sibling who will gladly let other's do while she sits at the Lord's feet and exercises her mind and imagination.  

VELÁZQUEZ, Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Christ in the House of Mary and Martha
c. 1620

In my experience Martha's don't always have a lot of appreciation for the Mary's of the world!  And I'll also confess, I give thanks to God above for the many Martha's throughout my ministry that have been such faithful doers of the Word (God bless you, you know who you are!).

That being said, even the Martha's of the world can benefit from the example that Mary sets.  You see sometimes we can get so overly scheduled and tired that we don't realize just how empty our own spiritual reserves are getting.   Prayer, worship, slow meditation on the scriptures, all of these things can help recharge our batteries and keep us at our spiritual best.  

Once again, for all you Martha's out there--I love you!  That being said, make sure you take some time to fill your own tank and sit at the feet of the master.

A prayer:  "Loving God, each and every day is filled with opportunities for us to be at work in the world.  Thank you for the blessing of work and purpose.  Help us to recognize when it is that we need to refresh ourselves by the still waters that you lead us toward.  Amen."