Blog

I can’t believe we’re heading into March already although, I have to say, that
the emergence of the daffodils and their lovely cheerful colour is a welcome
relief after the drab, grey days of winter.

For Christians, March this year brings Lent, with it’s long history of fasting
before Easter, mimicking Jesus’ 40 days in the desert as described in the
gospels. It’s thought that Lent was first formalised as a 40 day period of
fasting and penitence back in 325 AD! Early practices were strict, with only
one simple meal a day allowed in the evening, and with heavy restrictions
on meat, fish, eggs and dairy. In many Eastern churches fasting rules remain strict while, in the West, they have gradually relaxed. In more recent
times it has become a common practice to give up some luxury for Lent –
sometimes a favourite food item, but possibly a favourite activity as an act of
sacrifice and spiritual discipline.

Starting on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a period where Christians prepare spiritually for Easter, reflecting on faith, repenting sins, and deepening their relationship with God. As we head towards Easter with it’s emphasis on rebirth
and new beginnings, it’s a time to seek God’s will for our life and the life of
our church – particularly pertinent this year as we embark on the search for a
new minister and possible new direction. We welcome this time of reflection
both personally and as a church body as an opportunity to reassess, to put
things into perspective and to help clear our vision.

If, like me, you find yourself frequently running around in circles, and losing
sleep over things that seem huge at the time but which turn out to be, in fact,
trivial in the grand scheme of things, then maybe we need to slow down and
look at our priorities. Is it possible to put down some of the baggage we’re
carrying and concentrate on what’s important and meaningful right now?

I think we all lead such busy lives that we find ourselves on a treadmill – we
just keep going as we need to get things done. I’m a huge list maker – I find
great satisfaction in ticking things off lists as something that’s been
achieved. So much so that, if I do something that wasn’t on my list, I have
been known to add it on there just so that I can cross it back off!

Thinking about this issue brought the story of Mary and Martha to mind.
What does their story teach us? If you look at the lives of these women
closely, you will notice that they were vastly different people but their
hearts were in the same place. They just didn’t express their hearts desire
in the same way.

When we read the story of Jesus dining at the home of Mary and Martha,
we often want to judge Martha. We judge her for being too busy. We judge
her for not taking the time to soak in the presence of Jesus, but we usually
miss this very important lesson in the story: Mary and Martha were both
worshipping, but their methods were different. Jesus didn’t condemn Martha for wanting to serve in her way. But he did have a problem with her
anxiety. Martha wasn’t focused where she should be in that moment. Her
priority was out of order. She wasn’t making the best decision for herself at
that time. Worship should have been her decision.

Often times our decisions are made based on the current priorities in our
lives. Martha’s priority was to serve. Mary’s priority was to be served., so
they made decisions to behave accordingly. You will know what you are
prioritizing when you reflect on the things you have been doing. Behaviour
is a language – actions speak louder than words, remember. Survey your
to do list. Look at the goals you have accomplished. What have you been
spending most of your time on? What is your list saying to you?

God has no problem with us pursuing and achieving goals. He has no
problems with us serving Him with our whole hearts. He only cares that
you are making the best decision for you right now. Are you doing what
God needs you to prioritize right now? There is a time to serve and a time
to be served. What time is it for you?

Here at SBC we plan to mark the start of Lent by sharing a simple lunch of
soup and bread. Wouldn’t it be wonderful is simplifying our lives were as
easy as simplifying our meals?
Love and God bless
Sue H