Distraction to Peace to Love

Friends,

Not gonna lie, I was completely anxiety ridden last week. Anxiety hits everyone differently. For me, it’s like I can’t move. I sit really still.

I was able to make myself get outside and take hikes and speed walks and get my heart pumping. I did some strength training at home.

I read my Bible and listened to worship music.

Anxiety would hit and I would be frozen. My mind distracted in the unknown.

It reminded me of the story of Mary and Martha. It’s a tiny paragraph in the Bible, but it carries a huge lesson.

Basically, Jesus and his friends went to a woman named Martha’s house on their way to Jerusalem. Martha opened her home to them so they could rest and eat. Martha’s sister Mary was not helping Martha get everything ready, probably cooking and getting beds ready. It’s not like they called her ahead of time and told her they were coming to stay. Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to everything He had to say. She was learning and soaking in His presence. Martha was understandably frustrated with her sister. I bet Martha was the older sister and Mary was the little sister. Martha was probably muttering to her self and slamming cabinets and sighing and thinking things like, “HELLOOOO Mary! Can’t you see I need help? There are so many things that need to be done.” She even told Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (verse 40 in Luke) In the next couple of verses, it says, “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “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.”

Hmmmmm. Okay, so Martha was preparing things for Jesus and His friends. Most likely, she was preparing a magnificent feast instead of mac and cheese or ramen noodles to honor her guests. What was more important though was that her guests were there. She instead should have whipped up something quick (as quick as it could be done in Bible times). She should have put away the distractions in her mind and soaked in the presence of the Prince of Peace.

How very distracting life is right now. We are stressed and panicking. Friends, these feeling are not from God. He is allowing this pandemic, yes. He is making our busy lives slow down on purpose. Maybe so we can re-focus and remember what is truly important. He has a plan and He will use it for good. He is orchestrating something magnificent beyond our understanding. Trust me, I wouldn’t say that if I hadn’t lived over and over again this truth.

It totally sucks that big events are cancelled. It sucks that people are out of work. But we are resilient. We pick up and keep moving forward.

In the meantime, we just trust. Hug our kids tighter. Respect our elderly friends and relatives more. Put away the distraction and focus on love. Reach out to your older neighbors and see if you can do anything for them. Write a letter or send a card or spend time actually talking on the phone. Use FaceTime or video Messenger to connect.

Put away the distractions in our mind and spend time with the conductor of our stories, of our life.

This time is temporary, it will pass by and soon our lives will pick back up again. Find the peace and soak it in.

Sending so much love to this hurting world.

Tahnee XO