being and doing

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us never to get distracted from the one thing because of the many things.  

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Journal: What is the relationship between being and doing in your life right now?  What do you think Jesus wants it to look like?  How does this passage speak to that?

Reflection: I have a dear friend who likes to say, "Being is more important than doing, and doing is really important."  I like that a lot.  It takes into account that there are so many necessary things in need of being done, while, at the same time, remembering that the only way to do them well is to do them from a full heart and soul—to do them from a place of overflow and abundance, rather than a place of desperation and scarcity. 

     It is the tension we live in when we are confronted with the words of Jesus to Martha and her sister Mary in Luke 10:41-42: "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her."  Or, in other words, "Don't get so busy doing things for Jesus that you forget to spend time with Jesus."  It is the being with that gives the doing for its power and fruitfulness.
     So let us consider, this day, how and when and where we will be with Jesus in a way that empowers and enables us to do things for Jesus.  Let us not allow the "many things" to distract us from the "one thing."

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, help everything we do flow from a state of constantly being with you.  Amen.