“There is only one thing that is worth to be concerned about, Mary has found it and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42)
In our Evangelism Storytelling class, we read a story about Martha and Mary. Jesus and his disciples were brought to Martha’s house for a dinner. While Martha was busy preparing the dinner, her sister, Mary sat by Jesus’s feet listening to what he said. Martha felt unjust and then called on Jesus to let Mary come and help her prepare the food. Jesus responded to Martha by saying that: “There is only one thing that is worth to be concerned about, Mary has found it and it will not be taken away from her.”
We had discussions about this story after retelling it. We see clearly Martha’s heart for serving the Lord through her hospitality, but why instead, Mary is the one who got Jesus’s praise? Why didn’t Jesus reward the one who does the hard work? Many of us agreed that Mary is the one worth being praised, for her undistracted attention on Lord Jesus, because she prioritizes following Jesus than doing work for Jesus. However, we found that in our real life, quite often times, it’s easier for us to be like Martha, who asks “Lord, what can I do for you?” rather than to be like Mary, who asks: “Lord, what do you want to teach me?” Martha or Mary, who has a greater gain?
Often times, we are too distracted to focus on what truly matters. For example, we are distracted when we are around with important people in our lives. I have seen family or friends when getting together, such as enjoying a meal together in a restaurant, watching a movie, or simply taking a walk in the neighborhood, they would get distracted by their cellphones. A year ago, when I returned to China to spend my summer break, I went on a walk with my parents in our neighborhood. I found that my dad was on his phone, almost the entire time, talking to his co-workers instead of talking to us. We almost lost him because he was so far behind us!
My friend once told me that: “we are human Beings, not human Doings”. To be a human being, rather than to be a human doing, requires our mind to be present and actively engage in the moment. It requires us to be aware that what we truly have a hold of is the very moment when we are fully engaged, with our beloved family or friends. It is neither the future we are incapable of controlling, nor the past we are incapable of changing. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15) Because in the end, all material things will fade, what you have left for taking away with are those moments when you made your heart fully present.