Overly Occupied and Too Busy
I once heard that the summer was for relaxing and having fun. Would somebody please tell me if this is simply an urban legend, or if it's for real? I always go into the summer believing this and end up wondering who the wise guy is who keeps making things up! Sheesh...
Maybe I'm a "doer" - someone who enjoys doing and seems to never STOP doing. But there's this other part of me - perhaps the more sane and lazy part - that doesn't want to do anything but relax, hang out with friends, and let someone else do all the planning/work.
I work at the correctional center near Peace River where I attempt to beautify and maintain the beauty of this facility in working with nature. Alright, I do groundskeeping. Far less glamorous, much easier to understand. Anywho, this job affords me much time to think and interact with my co-workers (one of whom is my wonderful friend Crystal). So what have I thought about? Oh goodness, so many things! Most of which should probably remain in my head - a field trip to Cayla's head may leave you with strange side-effects, dizziness, nausea, and the like - but a few things I will venture to share. One is that I feel like a walking, talking contradiction. Example: I love order and organization and the ability to reduce my life to a list. In practice? My room is almost always a mess, my organizing is disorganized by yours truly in a matter of hours, and I rarely complete the lists I make. Another thing is that I love people and I thrive on interaction, but I feel guilty when I haven't completed a task or something equally efficient. Hmmm. Okay.
And now comes the time where I segue from that long spiel into the heart of the matter: being "overly occupied and too busy."
You've probably heard of the Martha syndrome. Well, you wanna know something? I believe I have it. Check this out:
I love studying the Word; picking it apart, writing down what sticks out to me, and finding how it changes or needs to change my life. What stuck out to you? For me it was that Martha was overly occupied and too busy and distracted. Distracted from what? To answer this question, let us ask this one: what was Mary was doing that was "to her advantage?" Well, she was sitting at the Lord's feet and listening to His teaching.
Alright, time for a "side note":
It's biblical, it's incredible, it's true. Study the Word for yourself and you'll find some pretty sweet things and truths and answers on that subject. Okay, on we go...
If you listen to Jesus' Words, abiding in them (John 15), you will be fruitful. If you, like Martha, try to please Jesus just by doing, you will be distracted. From what? From your life: Jesus and His Word.
Now I'd like to point out a few things:
1. Jesus did not tell Martha that the task she was doing was wrong, but how she was going about it: being anxious and troubled. Maybe if she had done her tasks after listening to Jesus, or had taken a break every once in a while to get a tasty morsel of His teaching, she wouldn't have been so anxious and troubled.
2. Jesus' Words will never be taken away from you - they will be with you for life. So when you think of where your treasure is and what it looks like, know this: the greatest treasure that can never be taken from you is the Word/teaching of Jesus.
Wow. When Holy Spirit has something to say, we need to get our ears on! Now I go to study the Word and then work - for Jesus - in peace and rest. May you do the same today, filled with the Word of Jesus and life!
In Truth,
Cayla
Maybe I'm a "doer" - someone who enjoys doing and seems to never STOP doing. But there's this other part of me - perhaps the more sane and lazy part - that doesn't want to do anything but relax, hang out with friends, and let someone else do all the planning/work.
I work at the correctional center near Peace River where I attempt to beautify and maintain the beauty of this facility in working with nature. Alright, I do groundskeeping. Far less glamorous, much easier to understand. Anywho, this job affords me much time to think and interact with my co-workers (one of whom is my wonderful friend Crystal). So what have I thought about? Oh goodness, so many things! Most of which should probably remain in my head - a field trip to Cayla's head may leave you with strange side-effects, dizziness, nausea, and the like - but a few things I will venture to share. One is that I feel like a walking, talking contradiction. Example: I love order and organization and the ability to reduce my life to a list. In practice? My room is almost always a mess, my organizing is disorganized by yours truly in a matter of hours, and I rarely complete the lists I make. Another thing is that I love people and I thrive on interaction, but I feel guilty when I haven't completed a task or something equally efficient. Hmmm. Okay.
And now comes the time where I segue from that long spiel into the heart of the matter: being "overly occupied and too busy."
You've probably heard of the Martha syndrome. Well, you wanna know something? I believe I have it. Check this out:
38 Now while they were on their way, it occurred that Jesus entered a certain village, and a woman named Martha received and welcomed Him into her house.
39 And she had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was listening to His teaching.
40 But Martha [overly occupied and too busy] was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me [to lend a hand and do her part along with me]!
41 But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things;
42 There is need of only one or but [i]a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [[j]that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:38-42 (AMP)
I love studying the Word; picking it apart, writing down what sticks out to me, and finding how it changes or needs to change my life. What stuck out to you? For me it was that Martha was overly occupied and too busy and distracted. Distracted from what? To answer this question, let us ask this one: what was Mary was doing that was "to her advantage?" Well, she was sitting at the Lord's feet and listening to His teaching.
Alright, time for a "side note":
Jesus' Words bring life.
If you listen to Jesus' Words, abiding in them (John 15), you will be fruitful. If you, like Martha, try to please Jesus just by doing, you will be distracted. From what? From your life: Jesus and His Word.
Now I'd like to point out a few things:
1. Jesus did not tell Martha that the task she was doing was wrong, but how she was going about it: being anxious and troubled. Maybe if she had done her tasks after listening to Jesus, or had taken a break every once in a while to get a tasty morsel of His teaching, she wouldn't have been so anxious and troubled.
2. Jesus' Words will never be taken away from you - they will be with you for life. So when you think of where your treasure is and what it looks like, know this: the greatest treasure that can never be taken from you is the Word/teaching of Jesus.
Wow. When Holy Spirit has something to say, we need to get our ears on! Now I go to study the Word and then work - for Jesus - in peace and rest. May you do the same today, filled with the Word of Jesus and life!
In Truth,
Cayla
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