Giving and Keeping

One of the important principles of Christian stewardship is that of "flow." We talk about cash flow in our budget or about the flow of goods from one country to another. The word implies that is a movement, not a static condition. Jesus was talking about "flow" when He taught, "Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting is the way. Generosity begets generosity." (Luke 6:38 MSG)

Jesus also told a parable about a rich man whose ground yielded such bountiful crops that he ran out of storage space. " 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!' " (Luke 12:18, 19 MSG)

The farmer had successfully provided what seemed to him all he would ever need. He failed, however, to consider one important factor: he could not guarantee a life long enough to enjoy all the goods he had amassed. Life itself was not something he owned and controlled.

Is enjoying "ownership" of things not acceptable? Is it wrong to have a savings program? Is acquiring a valuable collect of certain objects unspiritual? Should one refuse to prepare for retirement years ahead? No, that is not the point of this story at all. The warning, Jesus said, is this: “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” (Luke 12:15 NLT) It is a wrong attitude, more than an action, that He holds up for reproach.

Balancing this part of the life of faith is difficult for many Christians. Some are inclined to give too little and hold on to too much. There are others who would give too much and invest too little in their own self-care.

A Persian lyric poet of the 13th century wrote, and his words have become some of my favorite. They express so well how important the latter is:

If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,
And from thy slender store
two loaves alone to thee are left,
Sell one, and with the dole,
Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.

--Muslih-uddin Saadi Shirazi

And furthermore, you may share both your bread and your hyacinths with another needy person! Finding the balance is not a once-and-for-all achievement, but a process whereby giving is cheerful and keeping to use is joyful!

MaryMartha

Scripture quotation marked NLT is taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved. Scriptures marked MSG are taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Art from http:www.sxc.hu/

God on My Side

The persons responsible for my early religious instruction made sure that I understood it was my duty to align myself with God's purposes. I was not to concern myself too much with whose side God was on, but whether or not I was on God's side. (Perhaps referring to the statement attributed to Abraham Lincoln?) God doesn't have favorites, I was told; He loves everyone.

While all of this is true, what I failed to understand was that God really is on my side. This is not to say that He is on my side in a way that eliminates good for other people and their plans and programs. He is not particularly on my side as it relates to sports events, political elections, or bargain hunting. But He really, truly is on my side. He has my best interests at heart. He wants good things—but not necessarily just easy things—for me. He guards me, guides me, and provides for me. He watches out for me as a loving, careful father would watch out for his child. He has creative ways of bringing balance into my life.

We sometimes do not realize, in our endeavor to see God's love as all-inclusive, that His love is also very personal. He, in a particular way, suited just to me, loves me! The children's song I used to sing is really true!

I am so glad that my Father in heav'n
Tells of His love in the Book He has giv'n.
Wonderful things in the Bible I see;
This is the dearest that Jesus loves me.

I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.

Oh, if there's only one song I can sing,
When in His beauty I see the Great King,
This shall my song in eternity be:
"Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me!"

I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.

--Philip P. Bliss, 1870

MaryMartha

In the Middle

I am a middle child. Growing up, I was too little to do what the big kids do, too big to act like the little ones! "It ain't easy being me!"

It's good to be in the middle of some things. I'm in the middle of a project. I drive in the middle of country roads to avoid the hazards along the edge. I am in the middle of a great book I'm reading.

It's not so good to be in the middle of some other things. I was caught in the middle of this huge traffic jam. We're in the middle of allergy season. He or she likes to be in the middle of things.

Ah! It's that last "in the middle" that often gets us into difficulty!

4Not every conversation I hear is intended to include me. If I decide to "butt in," I'd better be certain what I have to say is going to be welcomed. Staying out of the middle is well-advised.

4Not every problem that I observe someone having requires my input. Really think about it before getting in the middle.

4Not every dramatic situation that is brought to me for pity actually needs a pitying response. Stay out of the middle.

4Not everyone needs me to defend them. Stay out of the middle.

4Not every idea that floats through my head deserves to be spoken. "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool," Abraham Lincoln said, "than to speak out and remove all doubt." Stay out of the middle.

4Not every idea presented by someone else has to have my approval or veto. It's often wisest to stay out of the middle.

4Not every experience of mine makes me an expert on a seemingly similar experience of someone else. For sure, stay out of the middle!

4Not every issue—theological, political, or social—requires me to have a fully-formed, defendable opinion on the matter. Wait a good long while before getting in the middle of debate.

4Not every cause, regardless how good, has a claim to my resources. Be careful how many of those "middles" I get into.

It seems, doesn't it, that I am better off not being in the middle of a lot of business that is not strictly my own? This doesn't necessarily mean lack of caring. If you look back over the list, you will see that it mainly means not talking too much!

The Book of Proverbs has some good advice about talking. Here are a few verses, and there are many more:

• Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. (10:19)

• Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. (13:3)

• The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words. (15:28)

• A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. (17:27)

Remembering these Scriptures will help me stay out of the middle of things that are "none of my beeswax"—the softer way of saying "This is none of your business," used often by those bigger kids in my little life!

MaryMartha

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

D-Moments

The employer of a friend of mine uses a disciplinary measure called D-Day. If a person has too many unexcused absences, for example, they are assigned an unpaid day off and must demonstrate their desire to continue working for this organization by their written statement to that effect. That D-Day is a "decision day."

Although we probably don't take furlough days and write essays about why we want to continue holding our position, we usually face lots of minor decisions. Maybe D-moments? Shall I stop for my favorite caramel latte (three dollars) or shall I bring along a cup of coffee from my own kitchen? Shall I remind the middle-schooler—again—to take her homework to school or make him/her take the consequences? Shall I park here in the handicapped space—I'll only be three minutes, tops—or shall I find a spot farther away? (Now you do know what's right, don't you, and besides you won't have a choice about paying the ticket.) Shall I maintain control of the TV remote, or shall I share? Shall I buy show tickets for the whole family or not?

Sometimes our choices are between equally attractive options; sometimes they are about choosing what is wise. Sometimes our decisions reflect our sense of responsibility and fairness, sometimes our sense of fun. We may opt for the sensible, or we can throw caution to the winds. Sometimes we have to consider what is right as opposed to what is convenient. Not to give undue seriousness to these little actions, but a hymn written over a hundred fifty years ago reminds us that little D-moments do add up to something meaningful.


Little drops of water, little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean and the beauteous land.

And the little moments, humble though they may be,
Make the mighty ages of eternity.


Little deeds of kindness, little words of love,
Make our earth an Eden, like the heaven above.

So our little errors lead the soul away,
From the paths of virtue into sin to stray.

-- Julia Carney, 1845

MaryMartha

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Things Mama Taught Me: "You'll Spoil Your Appetite"

This is what my mother warned when we wanted a snack too close to supper time or wanted sweets instead of more nourishing fare. I never lacked appetite, so I don't know that her admonition was necessary; nevertheless, she had a good point. It's very easy to leave out foods that are important for the body's maintenance and growth by substituting what we call "junk food" for its lack of those valuable nutrients.

I think it's possible to dull intellectual, cultural, and spiritual appetites also. If the brain is never challenged to process things that are beyond immediate recognition, where will new ideas come from? If appreciation for the arts is dumbed down to awe of dazzling technological displays, what will feed our souls? If beauty is only superficial and goodwill is a commercial product, how will we recognize truth? If everything we read or watch is "mind candy," how will we grow in the ability to fulfill our responsibilities? If we are used just to nodding to God once a week, how can we know His voice on the day He wants to speak to us?

"For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good." (Psalm 107:9) Let's not spoil our appetites!

MaryMartha


Scripture is from the New American Standard Bible, used by permission of The Lockman Foundation, http://www.lockman.org/


Art from http://sxc.hu/

The Gospel According to . . . Whom?

For a long time, we read Oswald Chambers and Dwight L. Moody and E. M. Bounds for inspiration and spiritual instruction. These were really, really serious servants of Jesus Christ! It's with some frequency now that we read or hear a new "take" on what it really means to participate in the Kingdom of God. In 2000, Bruce Wilkinson's book, "The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life," inspired a host of derivatives: three versions written for children and one for women, a journal, a book of devotions, a Bible study, a musical "worship experience," and a wide array of official merchandise including key chains, mugs, backpacks, Christmas ornaments, scented candles, mouse pads, and jewelry.

Then in 2002, the Christian book world was taken by storm with Rick Warren's "The Purpose-Driven Life." This is it! Read this book as a 40-day personal spiritual journey and find God's five purposes for human life on earth! Discover the blueprint for Christian living in the 21st Century! And this year, Joel Osteen with "Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential." It's not creating big waves, but I recently read, "Sin Bravely: A Joyful Alternative to a Purpose-Driven Life" by Mark Ellingsen, an open (though kindly) rebuttal—with some merit, I might add—of this decade's authors.

So who's right? Well, probably they all are.

What? Really? How could they all be right? Somebody has to be missing it, don't they, because they are all so different; Oswald Chambers and Rick Warren are just not in the same ballpark at all.

What we often fail to understand is that the truths of the Kingdom are like precious gems that catch the light in different ways as they are held one way and then another. Don't misunderstand me; there is but one way into the Kingdom of God. Jesus explained to Nicodemus that one must be born into it. But how Kingdom life is lived out is as varied as the people who make up the Kingdom. No one can claim that he/she understands God best because they worship with "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Merciful and Mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!" The Christian is no less spiritual who chooses to sing, "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. I want to see You." It is a different facet of wonderful truth.

Jesus Himself exemplified balance in the Gospel message. One time He said, "As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." (John 9:4) Another time He invited, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Different people, or the same people at different times, need to hear specific emphases which are different aspects of the same message. For hundreds of years, the Church has found balance through those whose teachings hold up into the light one certain thing or another one.

What an illuminated understanding of the Gospel can be ours if we are open to as many different understandings as are consistent with the Scripture!

MaryMartha

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

The Church Is Christ's Body

"Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours, yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion is to look out to the earth, yours are the feet by which He is to go about doing good and yours are the hands by which He is to bless us now." St Teresa of Avila, 1515-1582

From childhood, I have heard this quote by the famous Carmelite nun, whose writings are full of deep spiritual insights as well as practical common sense. But to me, the idea that I was responsible for "being Jesus" to the world around me was a scary thought! With my exaggerated sense of obligation, it seemed like just too much.

I agree with Teresa that I am a personal representative of Christ. The Apostle Paul himself wrote, "So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, 'Come back to God!' " (II Corinthians 5:20) But my overwhelming sense of duty was relieved when I realized that I am not by myself in this. It is not up to me alone, but to the whole Church.

"God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself." (Ephesians 1:22, 23) The Church is Christ's body. His hands, His feet, His eyes are given expression through many believers, not just me. While I want to take my full share of responsibility to bless and do good, it is not the fearsome "oughtness" I once thought it was. All those who share my allegiance to Christ as the head, share my participation in being His body.

MaryMartha

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Things Mama Taught Me: "Don't Worry about What People Think"

There has to be a certain amount of caring what people think about our appearance and speech and actions, if we're going to live among people who are our employers or employees, our public servants or those whom we serve, our parents or our children, our friends or those who could damage us. My mother said, "You wouldn't worry too much about what people think of you, if you knew how seldom they do." She wasn't talking about normal social expectations; she was aiming at a slavish fear of people's opinions. Too much consciousness of every nuance of an encounter inhibits rather than frees it.

"My boss/teacher might feel . . ." "So-and-so said that I am . . ." "I'm afraid that someone will think . . ." All these may be good in proper perspective, but given a place of oversized importance, they are negative. Trying to teach my daughter to handle others' opinions, I asked her, "Is what they are saying or thinking true? If you know in your heart that you were right or appropriate or fair—whatever the case—then just let it go. Don't try to chase down everything you think somebody is thinking about you."

Extreme self-consciousness may have a bit of fantasy in it, imagining that how we look or how we perform really matters all that much to other people. (Hint: Most of those other people are less interested in you than they are in what others think of them!)

MaryMartha

Of Peanut Butter, Critical Reviews, and Tuning In

I fixed a peanut butter sandwich for lunch today, and thought of "Chip" as I often do when I get out the Jif or Skippy jar. Chip was perhaps seven years old when his mother went in one evening to kiss him goodnight. "Mmmm," he murmured as she bent over him. "Mommy, you smell so good! Just like peanut butter." Peanut butter would probably not have been her fragrance of choice, but then, Chip would not have even noticed a flowery scent or the most expensive luxury perfume. He was tuned in to peanut butter.

I am a little irritated when a performance that I thought was absolutely wonderful is reviewed by the critic in what seems like condescending terms. And conversely, it's hard for me to understand the high praise a book receives when I am not able to slog through it! I know what sounds good to my own ears and what I am ready to absorb from a book, and I am tuned in to that.

Sometimes we take too seriously our personal preferences. Maybe we wouldn't dare say it, but we think,

"You watch that TV show? That's a bunch of foolishness."

"You play golf every weekend? What a waste of time."

"You paid how much?" (with raised eyebrows). "It's not worth that."

"I can't stand to listen to that –" (whatever word is appropriate to your vocabulary).

Let's consider our preferences in regard to our worship community. Somehow, when our likes and dislikes attend church, we are apt to give them an aura of rightness, or even holiness!

"It's too bad that our young people are . . ." (whatever isn't like what we were)

"The music is just . . ."

"The new translations of the Bible are . . ."

"I wish the Pastor would . . ."

"I was so surprised that . . ."

"Things are just so different." (Sigh)

Is it possible that some of our criteria for deciding what is appropriate or necessary or good could be simply our preferences, cherished as those might be? The older we are—once we get past teen years—the more experience we acquire in ordering our personal world. We get tuned in to what we like. Misunderstanding and even dissension arise when we insist that those preferences, opinions, and ideals are the standard to which others must conform. We have to let others tune in to their own priorities.

Even Chip knew that. He liked the smell of peanut butter, but he didn't expect Mom to dab it on her wrists before going out for the evening.

MaryMartha

"You Don't Trust Me"

If you're a parent, you probably have heard this complaint a hundred times. The youngster wanted to attend an entertainment of questionable value, or they wanted to take a late-evening job, or they wanted the keys to the car. With caution born of experience, you were not permitting it, or else you were laying down some strict boundaries. That's when the child may have objected, "You don't trust me," and wisely, you refrained from saying, "That's right, I don't!"

Trusting others is a balancing act. At one extreme are the individuals who trust no one. They suspect nearly everyone of evil intent, they see dark conspiracy in most actions of government or big business, they are certain our country will be ruined by . . . (people who are not like them.) On the other hand, some folks are too trusting. They let friends or family members take advantage of them, they give their bank account number to anyone who calls, they expect the best man/woman to win with or without their own vote. There has to be a place of balance somewhere between these two excesses.

Maybe this is where Jesus was taking His listeners when He said, "Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. Don't be naïve . . ." (Matthew 10:16-17) Jesus Himself was an example of this kind of wisdom coupled with goodness. "During the time he was in Jerusalem, those days of the Passover Feast, many people noticed the signs he was displaying and, seeing they pointed straight to God, entrusted their lives to him. But Jesus didn't entrust his life to them. He knew them inside and out, knew how untrustworthy they were. He didn't need any help in seeing right through them" (John 2:23-25)

I remember that the ruler I used in one of the elementary grades had inscribed on it The Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." People who are suspicious of everyone act as though the rule were, "You'd better do unto others before they can do unto you." And those who are naïve read the Golden Rule as, "Do unto others what you can then expect them to do unto you.'' The first is not kind, the second is not wise. The followers of Jesus are called to be both.

MaryMartha

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

In All Things, Charity

Centuries ago, a Lutheran theologian in Germany wrote the words which have since become, in one form or another, a key watchword in many Christian denominations and organizations. Church historians even have a special term for it: The Peace Saying. Peter Meiderlin (pen name: Rupertus Meldenius) lived in the early 1600's, a very troubled time with both political and religious strife. He wrote, "In essentials, Unity; in non-essentials, Liberty; in all things, Charity."

Who could quarrel with unity, liberty, and charity? We probably are all in favor. But what if, at the very outset, we cannot agree on what is essential and what is non-essential? What I consider an integral part of my Christian faith may be a non-issue for you, and both of us may quote Scripture to support our position!

Jesus Himself narrowed everything down to two fundamentals. “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40) When faced with Jesus' defining statements, we may ask the startled question, "But what about . . ." and bring any number of issues to be debated.

What is important to our understanding is that a great many things lie along a continuum. There are not just two alternatives with a great divide between, but many points along a "scale" from one extreme to the other. Take, for example, the matter of disciplining one's children. Some parents believe they should never inflict any kind of physical hurt, while others are sincere in administering Proverbs 23:13, 14—"Don’t fail to discipline your children. They won’t die if you spank them. Physical discipline may well save them from death." And a lot of people are somewhere in the middle, including those who think a single, swift pop on the seat of the pants works well. Some groups are very specific about what their adherents should wear, while others think it matters little. Some groups permit no musical instruments in the house of worship, others use a piano but would not allow drums, and some go for the whole rockin' band! Some people consider betting on the horses unacceptable, but they would buy a lottery ticket; those who object to the lottery might still buy a ticket for the church raffle. Still others refuse any kind of gamble.

Each person must decide, with the clearest available information and their best personal judgment and the help of God's Spirit, where is the right place on the continuum for himself/herself. And that makes Christians appear inconsistent! Because we all must find the place where we draw the line, each of us may be in a different place than those around us. Some of my animal-loving friends marched outside our civic center to protest the beauty pageant contestants being awarded furs. But while they marched, they wore leather shoes! So yes, we are inconsistent. We have different points on the continuum where we have chosen our positions.

Remember this: According to Jesus, these issues are not the greatest to be considered. We try very hard sometimes to make everyone fit into one tidy "box" of outward behavior. Early church fathers discovered this did not work very well, and began to rely on "The Peace Saying." They chose to be united in their belief that salvation comes through personal faith in Jesus Christ. They chose to allow diversity of beliefs and opinions and regulations and practices among believers. They chose to let love rule above all.

Let us do the same!

MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com

Lion and Lamb

What a contrast these two are, and it's fitting that an old proverb uses them to describe the changeable March weather: "In like a lion, out like a lamb," and supposedly, the reverse is true as well. Our weather here on March 1 was not exactly leonine, but it wasn't lamblike either. Today, on March 31, the weather is pleasant, but we are still talking about the blizzard some parts of Kansas experienced last week, with twenty-eight inches of snow in at least one county, and drifts up to six feet. Definitely the lion!

My favorite linking of lion and lamb, though, does not concern the weather. Old Christian hymns and modern worship songs alike honor the Lord Jesus Christ as both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God. A strange pairing indeed, for the One who is not unpredictable like March weather, but is "the same yesterday, today, and forever"!

Why is Jesus called a lion? Lions are fierce and mighty, often used as a symbol of royalty. As John received the Revelation of Jesus Christ, he reported, “Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”(Revelation 5:5) This makes reference to the prophecy Jacob gave about the descendants of his son Judah, "Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor. (Genesis 49:9, 10) When John looks then, he expects to see a powerful, majestic lion, a king who can overcome all opposing forces. Instead—a lamb.

Why is Jesus called a lamb? There are a great many references in Scripture to lambs, the vast majority referring to those which were killed as sacrificial offerings. Perhaps the most significant one is found in Isaiah 53, where the Savior is said to be like a lamb led to slaughter "for the iniquity of us all." In God's justice, He must exact the penalty for sin about which He warned Adam and Eve—death. In His mercy, He has provided a substitute sacrifice in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus, both Lion and Lamb. We need to see Him as both; to see Him as only one or the other is to have a distorted view. If we see only the Lion-Jesus, we may expect Him quickly to avenge us against our enemies—that is, whoever opposes us personally, politically, or nationally—and take His rightful place as ruler. That is exactly what the first-century Jews wanted, and they failed to recognize their Messiah because He did not "roar." We could even make the mistake of thinking that we can force others to accept the Lion's authority—and by extension, our own special rights.

If we see only the Lamb-Jesus, we may be charmed into thinking that grace and forgiveness and eternal life are ours without question or commitment. We may minimize the seriousness of God's commands, or we might fail to develop a sturdiness of faith that can withstand difficulty.

Love the complete Jesus. Don't try to direct the Lion. Don't try to make a pet of the Lamb.

MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com

The Puzzle of Life

Life can be a lot like putting a picture puzzle together. We have a picture, realistic or not, of what it should look like, and we also have a whole bunch of separate pieces--people, situations, feelings, ideas, things that happen, things that don't happen. Where do they all fit in?

Picture puzzle fans have different motives guiding their approach to a puzzle. Some are determined to accomplish the task; it's all about getting it done. Others mostly just enjoy the process; if the picture isn't finished today or not for weeks, that's quite all right. And that mirrors the attitudes people have about living.

In real life, some people are driven to accomplish with perfection all they possibly can, to the exclusion of savoring life's experiences. "Drive" is a very good thing, but sometimes these folks get caught up in the urgency of what has their attention and forget about the importance of things they may be neglecting: family, health, spiritual refreshing, helping others. They will no doubt achieve what they have set out to do, but they may not have much fun!

Others who regard life differently have goals too, but they see life not only as a challenge and responsibility but as a privilege. They want to feel the joys of their experiences and relationships without being desperate for them to "mean" something. They endeavor to find the balance in the various areas of their lives.

Puzzle fans also use different methods for assembling the puzzle. When my grandchildren were younger and wanted to help, they might pick up an interesting piece and ask, "Where does this one go, Grandma?" Then I would have to disappoint them by replying, "I can't tell yet, honey." The other family members--a little older--with whom I enjoy this activity do some sorting before they try to put things together. Maybe all the edge pieces are placed in a pile, all the pieces with this shade of green, all the pieces of the brick house, all the pieces that seem to be a furry animal, etc. Then using both color and shape to guide us, we begin to fit those pieces together. Again, this resembles different approaches to life.

Some people look at an incident or a set of circumstances and ask, "What is this? It doesn't make sense and, furthermore, I don't like it at all." They focus on just one thing in isolation and fail to see "the big picture." They may even become discouraged when that one situation or experience or relationship doesn't seem to "fit" and begin to believe that all this is just too hard.

In contrast, others take a long view. They don't expect everything to fall into place all at once. They ask, "What do I have or what do I know that will help me with this? What of God's grace do I need to apply in this situation?" They believe that if what they are experiencing doesn't "fit" now, the chances are good that it will become clearer farther along in the journey. They are willing to tune their ears to wisdom and apply their hearts to understanding (See Proverbs 2:2).

Eventually everything fits. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28 NASB)

MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)

Scripture quotation marked NASB is taken from the New American Standard Bible; used by permission of the Lockman Foundation.

Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com

Things Mama Taught Me: "Work First, Then Play"

I have my parents to thank for a sturdy work ethic: "Work first, and then play." On the farm, I learned valuable lessons about the importance of fulfilling obligations in a timely and thorough manner. If you don't bottle-feed an orphan lamb, it will die. If you don't gather the eggs, the hens are apt to break them. If you don't pick the beans, they will become tough and inedible.

What I didn't learn so well was how to play. Life was not easy for my depression-era, wartime parents. There was little leisure time and discretionary income while they reared a large family. My mother enjoyed reading and my dad listened to (no, not watched!) pro boxing, but those were the only diversions I remember their having. It was late in their lives before they began to enjoy television, a little travel, and some entertainment purely for entertainment's sake. They were good examples of the lifestyle Richard Bolles wrote about in The Three Boxes of Life and How to Get Out of Them: An Introduction to Life/Work Planning. Although this book was published in the '70s, readers find its principles still workable and valuable in this generation. Many people, he said, have a linear progression for life: get your education, work forty or fifty years, then retire. That is what I learned from my parents. A better plan is to do all three all throughout life. Never stop learning, never stop working, never stop playing.

Some people discover this in kindergarten—at least one person did. Robert Fulghum wrote: "Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work everyday some." (All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten) Some people take a little longer to gain understanding. I was mid-life before I realized how important this balance is. Now, barring actual disability in body or brain, I intend to keep my priorities ordered so as to continue for the rest of my life to "learn some and think some . . . and play and work everyday some."


MaryMartha
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You may be interested in a related article, Three Little Lambs.

Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com

How Much Is Enough?

I came across the title of a book the other day, One Hundred Ways to Simplify Your Life. I didn't read the book, of course—it sounds far too complicated—but I thought it was a truly amazing idea. A hundred ways to simplify? If I were to simplify my life, I think I would probably work on three ways, max! Actually, after seriously thinking about it for awhile, I decided that for most of us one thing would do for a start:

Learn how much is enough.

How much is enough food, enough sleep, enough pairs of shoes?
How much is enough house to live in? Enough car to drive?
How much is enough money?
How much is enough commitment of personal resources to the job?
     To the Church? To the community?
How much is enough time to spend with family and friends,
     how much with toxic people?
How much is enough solitude?
How much is enough talk? Enough being silent?
How much is enough electronic entertainment?
How much is enough exercise? How much doing
     absolutely nothing?
How much is enough reading? Or writing?
How many are enough issues laying around of a magazine
     I subscribe to?
How many are enough knickknacks that have to be dusted?
How many perfectly good Christmas bows that can be used again
     are enough?
How many plastic grocery bags, not-quite-empty bottles,
     and little boxes too good to throw away are enough?
     (Yes, I'm supposed to recycle and reuse, but really now . . . )

Balance is the key. We tend to be excessive consumers, having too much or wanting too much of some things, while we are paupers in other ways. We need not be either ascetics or gluttons, but rather examine our possessions and priorities to check for imbalance. "Learn how much is enough" implies less of a singular decision than an ongoing process. What is the right amount? We will need to weigh and re-weigh that, as the seasons of life change and we ourselves grow and change.

MaryMartha
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Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com

Mary and Martha Were Sisters

Mary and Martha were sisters who lived, during the time of Jesus' earthly ministry, in the little town of Bethany. The family often entertained Jesus in their home; it was a quiet place to rest and get a home-cooked meal. Jesus loved Martha, the Scripture says, and also her sister Mary. Here is how I imagine their story:

Martha was a worker. She thrived on the well-deserved compliments she received on her well-kept home. (It was her house, the Scripture indicates.) Under her care, the household hummed along smoothly. Meals were attractive and ready on time, the shelves were neatly ordered, the floors were clean. Martha saw to it.

Mary was a learner. When Jesus was in the house, she put aside her duties—cleaning, cooking, weaving—and sat close enough to hear him speak, completely absorbed in every word He said. Nothing was more important than learning from Jesus. Mary knew that.

One day Jesus came with His entourage of disciples and other followers—how many we don’t know—just in time for dinner. Maybe the women had had time to prepare, perhaps not. At any rate, Martha busied herself with preparations to feed the crowd. Mary, on the other hand, crept into the dining area where the men would soon be served. She sat, probably somewhat hidden since she was uninvited, at Jesus' feet to hear what He was saying.

In the middle of preparing the meal, hot and tired from baking fresh bread, Martha suddenly realized that her sister had not moved from her place at Jesus' feet. The table was not even laid, and here sat Mary, hanging on Jesus every word, completely unaware of all the work yet to be done. Martha began to get irritated, quite naturally. Would she have preferred to sit and listen to Jesus too? Quite probably. But Martha couldn't take the traveling evangelist out for dinner, or call a nice restaurant that caters to bring in a meal. That was not an option; she was obligated to provide for Jesus and the others in her own home. But she was having to do it all alone!

Martha bustled into the room, interrupting the men. "Master," she said curtly to Jesus, "doesn't it bother you that my sister has abandoned the kitchen, expecting me to get everything ready for You? Tell her to lend me a hand!" What motivated Martha to go to Jesus and call attention to Mary's lack of cooperation? Why didn't she just whisper to Mary, "C'mon, sis, I need your help"? Or had she already summoned Mary and been ignored?

Jesus did not scold Martha and tell her she should stop serving, nor did He pat Mary's head and tell her to stay right there. He just said gently, “Dear, dear Martha, you are far too worried about all these details! You're upset about things—a meal and a room—that matter only for a little while. Just one thing is really essential, and Mary has discovered that. Spiritual communion. What she gains here can never, in this world or the next, be taken away from her.

"Here," He continued, "come sit for awhile with us. Dinner can wait."

So Martha sat beside her sister, her fingers working nervously in her unaccustomed idleness. After a time, she quit studying the frayed edge of the Master's robe—"I've got to mend that while He's here"—and looked up into His face. The same welcome smile He had for Mary was there for her too, the same loving warmth in His eyes. Martha relaxed in the peace of His presence.
And pretty soon, without a word, Mary got up and went into the kitchen.x

l l l

My best friend and I are sisters too. Some of our early difficulties in understanding each other may be attributed to natural sibling rivalry or to our birth order in the family. However, our situation as we grew up was aggravated by family friends, well-meaning but not well-informed, who were prone to evaluate and make comparisons. “Mary is the quiet, serious one,” they would say. "Now Martha,” they continued, “is not like her sister. She is very busy with her career. (Sigh) The girls are so different.”

As we matured, though, the most amazing thing happened. Mary hit some rough places in life, and she didn't feel as spiritual as she once had. Martha met some friends that challenged her in new ways and her faith was energized. Mary became very busy, like a Martha. Martha began to value contemplation, like a Mary. After awhile Mary had a quiet, reflective aspect of herself, but an active, vigorous side as well. Martha too had a meditative and prayerful life, as well as a busy and creative one. Mary discovered that she was not all that different from Martha, and Martha began to see how like Mary she was. I am Mary and I am Martha. My sister is Mary and she is Martha. And yes, we can still tell each other apart! My blogging name—MaryMartha—was chosen to honor the two parts of me, and the two parts of my sister, and the two Bible women both of whom we admire.

MaryMartha
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Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com

Bearing Burdens

For a long time, I puzzled over the meaning of two Bible verses found in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians. “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ . . . For every man shall bear his own burden.” (Galatians 2:2, 5 KJV) What could Paul mean by these two seemingly opposite commands?

Then one day I saw a sketch that illuminated the passage for me. A line of travelers—men, women and even children—moved along a pathway. Each carried a “burden”: a big bundle under her arm, a large bag slung over his shoulder, a heavy jug held steady on her back by a long head-strap, a pack on his small shoulders, a bundle balanced on her tiny head.

Each person was carrying their own load, suited to their ability. At the same time, each leaned forward with one or both hands to help lift the burden of the person just ahead in the line. No one failed to take responsibility for himself/herself, but no one neglected the obligation to aid another. Everyone obeyed the command to bear one another’s burdens, and likewise the command to bear his/her own.

Jesus spoke of this same balance when He told us, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The love that does good to others is not meant to exclude oneself. Taking care of oneself is not freedom to eliminate reaching out to others. What a demonstration of Christian community if we can lovingly practice this way of bearing burdens!

MaryMartha
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The sketch I describe above is from an old yellowed copy I have of “Good News for Modern Man, the New Testament in Today’s English Version.” Days Inn invited me, years ago, to “take it with [me] for spiritual uplift.” I did, and it has.

Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com

Three Little Lambs

I have three tiny little lambs on the top of my computer desk, given to me by a good friend. They remind me while I am working that there are other things in life besides work, even though I find that interesting and rewarding.

One little lamb is just lying there, looking relaxed and pleasant. She doesn’t appear to be anxious about where to graze next or following the flock somewhere or anything else. She’s resting.

I used to think sleeping was a waste of time. It took quite a few years for me to realize that life is supposed to have rhythm, and if I disregard any of its aspects too greatly, I will pay in almost every other area. “He makes me lie down in green pastures,” the Psalmist wrote. (Psalm 23:2) That tells me that God expects me to stop my activity sometimes, and just rest.

But more may be happening with this little lamb than just resting. A sheep is among the group of animals called ruminants. Part of her stomach is a large storage area for food that she has consumed quickly, then later regurgitates, re-chews, and re-swallows in the process called cud-chewing. Rumination or cud-chewing is done mostly when the animal is resting and not actively eating. Healthy mature sheep may chew their cud for several hours each day.

Part of the rhythm of my life, I’ve learned, needs to be “ruminating”: thinking, dreaming, planning, pondering Scripture and what I have read elsewhere, processing the events of my days. The meaning of things escapes me if I only take in (graze) and never make time to think (chew the cud). So when I am quiet for several hours, I may be resting or I may be ruminating. (And you’ll never know which!)

The next little lamb has her eyes closed and little hoofs folded—well anyway, they’re together. I think she’s praying. She has a serious expression on her face, but it doesn’t look like worry. She must know that she has a Good Shepherd who is watching out for her and knows all of her concerns.

I know I’ll never learn all there is to know in the realm of prayer, but it’s something like breathing. I don’t have to know all the technicalities of my respiratory system in order to breathe satisfactorily. James Montgomery wrote in the words of a hymn, nearly two centuries ago, “Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath, the Christian’s native air.” When I’m short of breath, I get anxious, and likewise when I get anxious, I grow short of breath. Pretty much like praying! Sometimes I know I need to breathe more deeply, or I need fresher air. Sometimes prayer too takes extra attention and effort.

The third lamb is grinning and kicking up her heels. She is ready for play—a game of hide-and-seek or tag, or maybe just a run through the pasture. She is the one who has the most to teach me!

I grew up with a strong work ethic: “Finish your work first and then play.” This served me well during my years of schooling and early in my career. But as I grew older, I found myself with so much to do that when I worked first, I often never got around to doing the other things I wanted to do like reading, or needlework, or gardening, or taking a class. I don’t think it’s necessarily a good idea to play first, but I am learning to leave some time for “kicking up my heels.” Robert Fulghum (author of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten) had good advice for balancing life: learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. He just may have three little reminders on the top of his computer desk too.

MaryMartha

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email: mrymrtha@gmail.com