Martha vs. Mary

On Monday I was talking with my neighbor when I went over to fetch Jack who had run off  to play with Lucy.  It was a beautiful evening at the end of a beautiful day.  Kim doesn’t work on Mondays and was out in the yard doing some Fall cleanup.  I made a comment about what a nice day she to be at home and to be outside.  She answered with what I call a “yeah, but” response. 

Yeah, it was nice, but I’m never going to get all this yard work done.

And what happens if you don’t get it all done?  Does the world stop?  Will your gardens suddenly blow up?  Or sink into the ground?

Kim is a typical Martha, lots of work and worry.  There are things that need to get done.  I  agree, there is work that must be done.  But, in order to be able to work well and to serve well, we need to be renewed and refreshed.  We need our Mary moments. 

As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.   She had a sister named Mary [who] sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.   Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.”  The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.   There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” 

Luke 10:38-42

I don’t know about you, but if all I do is work and “get things done” I soon feel depleted and tired.  I find I need to do something that refreshes me, body, mind and soul.  Sometimes that is just sitting on the patio with a glass of wine watching the birds go by.  It may be reading a book or taking a walk in the park.  It could be sitting in the chapel in the presence of our Lord in the Eucharist.   

But, guess what?  The dishes and the ironing and the vacuuming will still be there while I’m off doing this.  When I return to the work, I am much better for it.

What do you do to refresh and renew?

AMDG