Priorities
Today I had a good work out with my trainer at the fitness center. He is really working on isolating the muscle groups that are the weakest and making those a priority. The overall session wasn’t as intense as some of the exercises, but I actually felt stronger when I left than when I arrived.
During this Thanksgiving week, I am grateful for the physical and occupational therapists that I have had in my journey to recovery. It has been great to return to Northern Colorado Rehab as an outpatient and for those who worked with me during my months as an inpatient last year to see my progress. I also think of my home physical therapist who set some goals and predicted the level of activity that I am now enjoying. (picture of me taking my first steps with a walker last January) And of course our friend Gary Harkness my physical therapist at McKee Hospital in those initial weeks will always hold as special place in our hearts. I continue to follow Gary’s admonition to “stay the course and keep your eyes on the cross.”
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” Luke 10:40
This is another verse where someone questions whether Jesus is concerned about what is happening to them. In this situation, Jesus is at the home of Mary and Martha. Martha is caught up in being the perfect hostess and the work of getting the meal together and her sister is just sitting around visiting with Jesus.
He plea to Jesus is “don’t you care” or “are you not aware or does it not matter to you that I am doing all the work by myself?” I am sure Martha was ready for Jesus to tell Mary, “get up and help your sister, don’t let her do all the work alone.” Instead Martha is the object of correction, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)
Yes there was work to do done and Martha sensed the urgency of matter at hand, but Mary was in the preferred position at Jesus feet instead of in the “kitchen.” Jesus tells Martha she is “anxious and troubled about many things…” That means her mind and her emotions were in turmoil and perhaps over more than a meal. If is often difficult to know all the issues that may be behind an individuals frustration in a situation like this.
What does seem apparent is that Martha allow the urgent to crowd out the important. That not only robbed her from time with Jesus but was bringing resentment over her sister’s choice. How often do we allow our “work for Jesus” to rob us of our “time with Jesus.” I know looking back at my life, there are times when I realized that I missed out on something because misplaced priorities allowed me to miss the timing of an opportunity that was soon to be gone. If Martha realized how close Jesus was to the end of His life, would her choice have been different? Mary seize the opportunity and Jesus commended her priority.
It is good for us to stop and consider the “distractions” of our life that take us away from the priority of the moment. We find that doing the “right thing” may not be the best thing. I believe that is why the psalmist’s petition was, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)