The first willow shoots pushing through to new life.
Luke 10:38-42
While reflecting on the story of Mary and Martha, I was struck by the words ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing’ and I wondered why. I put in the hours in terms of my prayer life, admittedly rather distractedly in recent months, but I am at least trying to sit at Jesus’ feet as Mary did. Then I wondered whether there might be another meaning for me.
I have totally internalised the protestant work ethic, which leads to an almost capitalistic perspective on how I use my time – every moment of every day needs to ‘useful’ or, at the very least, justified in some way. This has always been the case but is particularly pronounced in this very busy period of my life. I have a long list of things that need to be got through, and even when there is a hiatus, this list is still there at the back of my mind, leaving me no rest.
I wonder if the ‘one thing’ I need is to be present to the present moment, to live life to the full in the complexity of the here and now – not at some mythical point in the future when life is simpler and I’ve crossed every last item off my list?