Finding Jesus Space

Ever had one of those situations where you just couldn’t make sense of what was happening?  It wasn’t that you stopped paying attention and then got surprised.  Quite the opposite.  You were working really hard towards a goal but then it all starts heading in a different direction.  I was having a conversation with someone earlier this week who talked about how sometimes people make choices in their lives that have deep effects and consequences on your own life.  Even though it wasn’t your choice to make originally, you are trying to make sense of the reorientation.

What do you do when you find  yourself in one of those interesting situations?  This season of Lent our church is spending time doing a “renovation of the heart” series,  based on a book by Dallas Willard of the same name.  We have basically been spending time looking at the inner self and all of the ways we can experience transformation.  I have found it to be entirely timely and helpful reflection.  Sometimes the best thing we can do in the midst of unexpected situations is to deeply discern what is God’s goodness, what is God’s desire and God’s path for us and simply take a step towards sitting in that space.

All of us find ourselves in situations we could have never predicted.  All of us find ourselves at one time or another  in a place where the hopes and desires of others trump our own.  And that can be confusing.

This past weekend the women of our church were on a Women’s Retreat and one of the Scriptures we talked about was the infamous Mary and Martha story where Martha is fussing and taking care of everyone and getting annoyed at her sister, Mary, who has decided to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen.  Jesus commends Mary and fusses at Martha.  For us doers, this is highly annoying.  But right now, I am understanding Mary’s perspective better than I ever have.

What if Mary found herself in a situation she had not expected, a circumstance that was contrary to the path she thought she was on?  What if she was feeling confused or frustrated or a little off-balance?  My sense is that instead of trying to work her way through the scenario, she has chosen wisely.  She has chosen to seek that Jesus space where she can just stop and listen.  Where she can catch the scent of the trail she is supposed to be following again.

Maybe our lesson here is if we find ourselves facing an unexpected situation that puts us off-balance, the best thing we can do is stop.  Stop trying.  Stop fixing.  Stop doing.  Like Mary, just stop and get balanced.  Be in Jesus’ good presence. Get oriented again.  Resist the temptation to work our way out of it or distract ourself from it.

Luke 10:38-42  (CEB)

While Jesus and his disciples were traveling, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him as a guest.  She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his message.  By contrast, Martha was preoccupied with getting everything ready for their meal. So Martha came to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to prepare the table all by myself? Tell her to help me.”

 The Lord answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things.   One thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part. It won’t be taken away from her.”

Maybe Mary needed to align her inner self with Jesus.  If that happens, then whatever the scenario before us can and will be managed.  Excuse me while I sit and listen for a while.

Grace and Peace,

Lory Beth