“What would life be like if every day, we chose the better part?” The question struck me. It was a question asked during a reflection on the scripture story of Mary and Martha, one that I have heard many times before, but was hitting home to my daily life as I sat listening:
Jesus 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 relate to the story, feeling like Martha a lot of the time – busy with daily life, not pausing, feeling burdened, complaining, telling others what to do. It’s not a part of myself that I’m proud to admit, but sadly, I live like Martha acted in the story quite often. And the words of the story reminded me of where this busy-ness, feeling of overwhelm and burden leads: anxious and worried about many things, and allowing that busy, anxiety, and worry to direct my day and decisions.
Yet Mary, she chose first and foremost to sit at Jesus’ feet and to listen to him speak. She paused from the preparation and the work, from the busy-ness. The reading doesn’t describe much from Mary’s perspective, but I can imagine she is feeling a peace and joy and focus as she sits there. The fruit of her choice is in fact that peace and joy and focus. She probably continued to feel that peace, joy and focus once she stood up and helped Mary. And the amazing point that we hear from the words of the story is that her peace and joy will not be taken away from her.
What I realized in a new way from hearing this story again was that we are not called to stop doing the work, the busy, the preparation, but we are called to choose the better part first, to make that our priority. So what is that better part in our daily life? What does it look like?
Scientific and social research shows us time and time again what this story has tried to teach us for centuries – that daily meditation, prayer, pausing leads to improved focus, self-awareness, calm, and well-being throughout the day.
This story, our faith traditions teach us the same: When we choose to pause, to listen, to just be with God and ourselves, there is fruit of peace and joy and focus that stays with us during the day. Perhaps it is prayer time, spiritual reading, meditation or contemplation, sitting practicing breathwork, a mindful morning walk. It can look different for each person but the purpose is the same: to pause, listen and allow that time to intentionally bring us peace and direction for the day.
To return to the question: “What would life be like if every day we chose the better part?” Likely I would no longer be rushing through my day directed by a “to do” list, experiencing anxiety and worry about what needs to get done, and misdirecting my energy. Likely, as the story reminds me, I would be calm, walking through the day with intention and purpose and peace.
May we all choose the better part (more days than not), and may we experience the fruit of that choice that will not be taken from us.
Comments