It Will Not Be Taken

On the first and third Tuesdays of the month, I sit in a room full of circular tables surrounded by folding chairs with women surrounding me. Moms from my church seeking spiritual growth and moms from town who just came to have a place to sit down and chat with friends while someone caring watched their kids. We sit together in that fellowship hall with the school tile floor but much better snacks and we listen to someone teach from God's word.

And then we sit with those verses. We sit, quietly. A room full of women all silent, contemplating what we just heard, what we read. Some writing. Some just thinking. A few just sitting, enjoying the quiet of the room. God moves in that space.

This past week we heard from Martha, as in Mary and Martha. Here is the passage and the thoughts I wrote down during those minutes of reflection.

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 few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38 - 42

Martha was distracted - pulled away. She was missing what was important.

Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. 

It will not be taken.

But why does it feel like it is. Why are we always so anxious that our life, our way of life, our relationship with God will be taken away.

Thrown away. Maybe.

Walked away from. Possibly.

But taken -
     Is this Jesus' assurance that we are His? That we cannot be pulled away?

But then what is distraction but just that. Pulled away.

Distractions -
    Circumstances that happen.

I though get to decide how I respond.

Pulled away? No. Not if I choose to let my circumstances not become distractions.

Oh but that is hard... so very hard.

What circumstance has become a distraction in your life?