by Natalie Wynd
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who live in it.
You don’t have to look too hard for a meme that starts with ‘Keep Calm......’ but I imagine that many of us don’t take the message very seriously. At the time of writing this, Queensland has just returned to school after the two weeks break between term 1 and 2, the easter holidays. I am fortunate to have a term time only part-time position, so holiday breaks for me include a break from work. For my family, it includes no school for 4/5 of my children. Yes, there are no lunches to make, and no 8.30am deadline, but there is still routine in the no-routine. Washing still needs to be done, people still need to be fed, activities still occur, and it got me thinking. That it is not just the families with children that experience this routine in the no-routine problem, parents of young children who attend playgroups or library reading sessions, older people who are interacting less with the social side of the community. We can however be intentional at ensuring we interrupt the routine within the no-routine.
Mary and Martha are a great example of this. Luke 10:38-42 describes the story.
Luke 10:38-42 – As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 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. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her.”
They were busy doing all the things that needed to be done to run a house, prepare for guests and serve food. They too had washing to do, activities to plan for, possibly young children to entertain, people to feed, and then, Jesus rocks up on their door, with a group of his mates; twelve of them to be exact! Now, they were ecstatic, don’t get me wrong, they loved Jesus and yearned to learn more from Him, they were honoured to serve Him.
Mary; she chose to intentionally interrupt the no-routine, she chose to sit and listen, to learn from the master teacher, to spend time, to get to know Him better.
Martha; she chose to continue the no-routine, even though she wanted nothing more than to sit and be with Jesus, to listen and spend time, to connect and build a relationship. Her commitment to the no-routine cost her relationship building time.
Now, you might be wondering what the story in the bible would have looked like if Martha had sat and intentionally spent time with Jesus as Mary did? Well, that is pure speculation but not once does the Bible mention that Jesus went hungry or thirsty when in the company of friends.
What parts of your no-routine do you intentionally put before other things. Are you vacuuming when you could be connecting with a friend over coffee, are you washing dishes instead of reading the Bible, scrolling Facebook or Instagram instead of playing with your kids? Whatever your no-routine is, now is the time to intentionally interrupt it.
Natalie is a Pastors wife from Dalby, mum to five aged between 18 and 5. She has a passion for nutrition education. She loves Jesus, craft, sewing and coffee with friends.
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