Our house is pretty quiet these days.
I’m not sure if all of you were around her enough to know, but E is the biggest talker in our family. She is what is now known as a “verbal processor.” Which means that if you are in a room with her, you will not just be quietly reading or working very long. At some point she is going to want to ask your opinion about something or talk something through. And that is why this summer the house has felt pretty busy and full, even though there were plenty of days where not a lot was going on. Now… the house is empty and quiet. No E, no S, and no dog. I am getting more projects done and staying on top of things a little easier. But I’m pretty sure that is not a good trade. I miss having her around and being asked for my thoughts. And I miss listening to her talk. It seems that one way we can bless each other is by simply listening.
Jesus makes this clear in Luke 10:38-42:
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Martha was doing good things by being responsible and serving Jesus and his followers. The text says that there were indeed preparations that had to be made. But in that moment there was something better for her to be doing. And that was listening to Jesus. Mary chose to spend time with the Messiah and listen to him while He was there. She chose relationship over busy-ness. Fruitfulness over efficiency. As Jon Bloom says, “Listening often doesn’t feel like doing. But it might just be the most important thing God wants you to get done today.”
And I think this is why we should almost always prioritize spending time with people and listening to them. There will always be another event, another project, another item on the to-do list that needs attention. But we will not always have more time to love and serve and listen to each other. My choice now that I have the house to myself then is this… I could spend all of my new-found time getting more things done. But perhaps it would be even better to still use some of that time to listen - to what God is saying to me through his Word, and his Spirit, and his people. Perhaps listening is the most important thing God wants me to get done today!
Blessings to you all!
Pastor Aaron
Comments