Are We Living A Martha Life?

(Luke 10:41-42) “The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it's the main course, and won't be taken from her." The Msg.


This past Sunday our Pastor told a cute story about a little town of about 200 people or so. They had heard they had a visitor. “Paul Newman” it had been rumored was visiting this little town. One particular day during the visit, a woman decided to go get her usual (double scoop chocolate ice cream—a woman after my own heart) and as she walked in, she noticed in the corner of the ice cream shop at a table was a man with the most gorgeous blue eyes. Yes, she had heard the rumor. Yes, she thought this was probably –him—Paul Newman. In the brief moments, she thought better of it and decided she would remain totally cool, and not act like some of those “other “screaming fainting crazy women but instead very dignified. After all, isn’t this an everyday occurrence in this small town of 200 --- people like Mr. Newman just happen up in their ice cream shop? So out of her dream state she looks back at him, he nods at her and she nods back. Wow, she’s cool, she thought.

So, she orders her ice cream and as she gets her money, ice cream and gathers her purse, she walks out of the store and gets into her car. She is thinking “I’m good.” I deserve a Grammy award for this performance.

She sits for a moment and realizes there is a small problem….. Where is her ice cream? She starts to sweat. "No way”, she thinks, she has forgotten her ice cream. Now, she has two choices here. Does she go back in and look like an idiot or does she drive away and look like an idiot? Either way, she lost her focus in those big blue eyes and now it shows. The ice cream cone is sitting in the cone holder and she’s busted, right?!

She sucks (I doubt my Pastor said “sucks” it up) it up and walks in the store. She looks at the cone holder, it’s empty. So, she asks the girl behind the counter and the little girl shrugs her shoulders as if she has no idea. The woman looks around, slowly, like r.e.a.l. s.l.o.w., panic is starting to take over. She looks over at Mr. Blue Eyes and hoping he isn’t paying a bit of attention to this disastrous situation, but oh is he ever. Paul, I mean Mr. Newman says, “Mam, you put your ice cream cone in your purse!

Distracted.

Are you ever distracted?

Cell phones? Computers? Ever watched our college aged kids with a cell phone? They can’t go 10 minutes without a phone call or text message. Take “it” (cell phones) away from them for one hour. I believe panic would set it.

Relationships? Distraction sets in when they(the other person) defines mine / your worth.

Blogging. Oh bloggers.. I love my blogging friends and my blog. Just ask my hubby. But can it become a distraction? Yes, when it becomes life. I have to remember its purpose in which I started blogging…. A journal for Jesus Christ. Friendships—sure…. BUT, when I start to seek my worth through the approval outside of this, I’m no longer finding the life through my Savior. And this is a huge distraction.

Each day, we are faced with distractions. It’s how we choose to handle these distractions that will determine what our lives will look like.

From the beginning of time, we have been given a choice… and we are still given a choice. Even though, we may have our Salvation wrapped tightly up as ours forever, what about the abundant life? Do we want the abundant life Christ promises (John 10:10) or do we wish to live tired and worn-out?

Do you want to be a distracted Martha?

Or do you want to be a Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus?

It’s our choice; do we want to live like Mary in a Martha world?

Embrace the main course – embrace our Jesus!