God Speaking

“She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said, But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made”

(Luke 10: 39 – 40)

As the New Year begins to take shape, all the activities that were temporarily put aside for the holidays, now have to be begun again, the children are back at school, exercise classes begin, soccer practice, basketball, swimming, all the after-school classes start, grown ups sign-up for new programmes, issues at work need to be addressed, life begins again in earnest.

I read an interesting description of what this can mean not only in our day to day life, but our spiritual walk, “the fog of distraction”. When we are distracted by multiple activities, a fog descends upon us and we lose sight of what is really important to see. Here in North America the use of cellphones has become such an obsession, that people use them even when driving a car and hence the term, distracted driving which can and does bring about terrible accidents and multiple injuries, they become immersed in a fog which hides the hidden danger of what they are doing.

Distractions can also blind us to the importance of our relationship with the Lord and Luke records a very telling example of this which occurs in the home of Martha and Mary. Martha becomes distracted by impressing Jesus with a beautiful meal while Mary listens intently to what Jesus is saying.

Here in Vancouver we live by the water and have a beautiful view of the city skyline, but during the wintery mornings a thick fog settles over the water and creeps around our windows, so the city view is obliterated and all we see is fog as if the city does not exist. The fog of distraction can stop us from keeping the Lord in full sight, and we might forget he is there right with us while we are so caught up with everything we are doing.

Isaiah describes us as sheep who have gone astray;

“We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way….” (Isaiah 53: 6)

We know that sheep are not the most intelligent of animals and if they get distracted and wander away from the flock, they lose sight of the shepherd and find themselves in all sorts of predicaments.

So how do we deal with all the distractions of modern life and not lose sight of our Shepherd?  Jesus himself answers that question when Martha begins to complain about her sister, Mary.  He points out what is important not only for Martha to realise, but us as well. Worrying about schedules, and all the other distractions of life creates a fog between us and the Lord.  Making time to sit with him and listen to him through his word, is the most necessary task to accomplish in a day;

“Martha, Martha, “The lord said, “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.” (Luke 10: 41)