Goodportion
Aug 15, 09:42 AM
There are so many distractions.
Sure, many things that get my day-to-day attention are worthwhile, but I often wonder how much unnecessary importance I place on various issues and situations in my life.
Is worry inevitable? I have always thought it interesting that in Matthew 6.34, Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow because each day has enough trouble and reason to be anxious in and of itself.
So, He tells us not to worry…because we have plenty of worries as it is? Confusing.
Maybe it is yet another way that Jesus is telling us to live in the “now”, the present, and to be completely attentive to the moment we are gifted with. Will our present troubles be alleviated? Not according to Jesus. We are just asked to not give a thought to what is coming around the bend.
We are called to live out our call today while remembering that our present struggles are nothing compared to our future glory (Romans 8.18). Whatever this world throws at us is overcome because “He who is in you, is greater than he who is in the world, (1 John 4.4).”
We pretty much all have the same list. We fill in the blanks with different words, but many times we find ourselves on the same hamster wheel….with the same hurried, worried, and ragged feeling.
So how is it all balanced?
There are errands that Paula asks me to take care of. There are concerts to book, and the tour schedule to work on. There is work to be done to the website. There are bandmembers to communicate with, songs to be arranged, setlists to figure out, tour details to compile and tour books to be created, drives to plan, flights to be booked, merchandise to be organized, emails to answer, phone calls to make, record company meetings, guitars to be fixed…And I GET to practice songs and make up new songs (that last bit is the ice cream).
All this clamors for my attention. It’s important, but Brooklyn just wants to sit on my lap and have a book “read” to her. She wants me to dangle her upside down, tickle her, and make faces with her.
I pray I can prioritize my life to revolve around the people and things that matter.
THIS PIECE OF SCRIPTURE SCREAMS TRUTH: In Luke 10.41-42, Jesus says “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 from her.
My ever-consuming and always-occupying cares and concerns leave me with that which comes and goes, but the good portion won’t be taken. The Lord remains. All the results and ramifications I experience, as good as they might be, don’t stick around. The opportunity to sit at the Lord’s feet is always there. He constantly wants to hang out.
I want to choose the good portion. I don’t want to miss out on the good that I take for granted.
It is a gift to sit down in front of a meaningless sit-com with Paula (though I erroneously, and much too often, deem it a waste of time). It’s a blessing to toss Brooklyn from my arms onto the bed over and over and over and over.
Maybe, just maybe, by doing the “trivial” stuff, I truly hang out with Jesus.
I want to choose the Good Portion.