Still Waters

Launching out before sunrise at Cunningham Pond.

"Where morning dawns and evening fades, You call forth songs of joy." (Psalm 65:8)

If you “put in” at Cunningham before the sun comes up on a Sunday morning, you can forget for a moment that a usually noisy state highway is right nearby. Nothing but the honk of geese doing a fly-over and bullfrogs in the shore weeds to break the stillness. Not a soul in sight—check that…thought it was a bird splashing, but there’s this one guy out in the middle of the pond quietly doing laps.

The cool, late summer mist over the warm water seems to announce the arrival of the sun finally peeking over Pack Monadnock. On morning’s like this, you can’t help but see and think clearly. Any anxious thoughts disappear. You’re especially aware and grateful for the start of a new day, leaving yesterday and the week behind. And all within you is filled with quiet "songs of joy."

And here, on a morning like this, a familiar Psalm takes on a life of its own:

"He leads me beside quiet waters; He restores my soul.”

(Psalm 23:2-3)

Amen to that…What a blessing to have such a refuge so close to town and home.

And as those good medicine labels say, and the Lord might heartily agree, “take as often as needed.”

School of Life

An iconic hometown building with a story to tell.

When it’s 75 before sunrise and the air is saturated with humidity, all of life can seem gray, moist and dull. Even the brightest flowers in front of one our town’s most iconic buildings become blah pastels. So, why post a picture? Because before it was a brewery and an American Legion hall and a place of gathering for veterans of the Civil War, it was a school in the days before public education.

Teaching our children well has always been a priority here. The town history commented, “The schools of Peterborough have given to the world a long succession of boys and girls who have become splendid men and women.” Growing up here, I can attest to that. All very cool and interesting, but as I walked away, I remembered what I had read awhile earlier from my daily dose of Proverbs—they were words of instruction for the school of life. Timeless (and much-needed) lessons like...

“How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver.” (Proverbs 16:16), and “A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction.” (Proverbs 16:23). And especially...

“The human heart plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

It was good to remember that no matter what the camera lens may have said, there is nothing gray in those wonderful words of life, no matter what your age.

I again started this morning’s walk asking God to show me something beautiful or that He was seeing. I confessed to thinking, “nah, there’s not much out there today,” but sensed a response of, “If you really want to see what I see, even on a gray day, you’ll find it.” Well, amen to that.

Now to go and (try to) live “splendid”-ly well in the school of life. What the world needs now…

Moon Gaze

Night hands off to day at Cunningham Pond.

“His kingdom will last before Me like the sun. It will continue forever, like the moon, like a dependable, reliable, faithful witness in the sky.”—Psalm 89:36-37

A favorite local author from childhood, the late Elizabeth Yates, once said of the early morning: “The silence is so intense that the striking of a distant clock comes into it like sounds from another world. How bright the stars are! How still the trees! Neither branches nor leaves are in motion. Everything seems to be waiting for something to happen. It is a time when the veil between the worlds is thin…”

If you’ve ever gotten up that early, you feel those words as your own. Because no matter what the season, one of the best things about waking up early is to be in that moment of intense stillness when night hands off the baton to day. Dark becomes light again. Another relay race is on! And there to cheer on the moment every time is the moon. Sometimes, it’s right in your face. Sometimes, it's a fingernail way up high. And sometimes, it’s to the left or to the right of where it was a few days ago, but it’s always, always there, making its comforting presence known.

The psalmist, who spent a lot of time outdoors, tells us something more—that God Himself is faithful, just like that moon. And it doesn’t have to be night becoming morning to see and receive that truth. Because on this new day, whether cloudy or sunny, it’s good to know that the Creator of heaven and earth is a type-and-shadow of that “dependable, reliable, faithful witness in the sky” whose kingdom still reigns beyond the blue or gray or storminess of all that we can see or feel. He’s got this.

Because just like the moon shines in winter, spring, summer and fall, faithful means God never goes away on vacation or leaves us to figure things out for ourselves. Better still, seeing the moon up there is a constant reminder that though we stumble often, doubt frequently, and rebel without even realizing it, God remains faithful to His Almightyness, His promises, and His name, without a hint of wavering...

His love toward us never quits, whether we feel it or not. It’s always reaching out, like a beam across the pond.

...And like the moon—sometimes appearing to be full in our heart, sometimes feeling distant and thin, but always present regardless of circumstance—God is tirelessly, joyfully, faithfully reflecting the goodness of all that He is in a world gone mad. His love. His mercy. His compassion. His grace… to any and all who will simply look Up and believe that the beautiful moon in the sky is much more than just a faithful moon. To be still and know that…

“He is perfectly faithful, because God is never partly anything.”—A. W. Tozer

Always There

"After all, God is God, because He remembers."— Elie Wiesel

For photos on every camera roll, for every audio recording session, for every player on a team, and for every suggestion or good idea proposed to find a solution, the four hardest words to hear are these: “didn’t make the cut.” Unwanted. Not quite as good as something else. Destined to be forgotten. No one cares, really.

And then one day, that idea that was met with silence becomes recognized as “wait, that’s actually brilliant,” the player who gave his all but was cut gets a call and becomes an integral part of the team, that song somewhere on the cutting room floor gets picked up and becomes just what someone needed to hear, and a photo taken but entirely forgotten suddenly speaks like a symphony’s fortissimo.

That empty park bench on a rainy fall day is one of those loud, "forgot I took this one," photos. It looks lonely and forgotten, too. Except look again: someone noticed. A person with a camera walked by and instead of seeing lonely and forgotten saw something beautiful instead. Seeing that B-roll photo this week was a reminder of the amazing way that God looks at us—never unwanted and forgotten, or never accepted, loved and remembered only when our performance is just right. But...

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.

    “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

—Isaiah 55:8

"I have loved you with an everlasting love." — Jeremiah 31:3

We can't be reminded enough that we are known intimately, watched continually, and loved deeply.

“Nah, not me, though. Not today.” Well, yes, actually! 

And, as is the case more often than not, it is His Words that speak louder and better than anything we could think or say or write—but just to reinforce the truth that God's Word always extinguishes the lies, and doubts, and fears of rejection, the sound track for His Words is photos that supposedly “didn’t make the cut,” all beautiful in their own way…

"O Eternal One, You have explored my heart and know exactly who I am;

You even know the small details like when I take a seat and when I stand up again.

    Even when I am far away, You know what I’m thinking.

You observe my wanderings and my sleeping, my waking and my dreaming,

    and You know everything I do in more detail than even I know.

You know what I’m going to say long before I say it.

    It is true, Eternal One, that You know everything and everyone.

You have surrounded me on every side, behind me and before me,

    and You have placed Your hand gently on my shoulder.

It is the most amazing feeling to know how deeply You know me, inside and out;

    the realization of it is so great that I cannot comprehend it.

Can I go anywhere apart from Your Spirit?

    Is there anywhere I can go to escape Your watchful presence?

If I go up into heaven, You are there.

    If I make my bed in the realm of the dead, You are there.

If I ride on the wings of morning,

    if I make my home in the most isolated part of the ocean,

 Even then You will be there to guide me;

    Your right hand will embrace me, for You are always there.

Even if I am afraid and think to myself, “There is no doubt that the darkness will swallow me,

    the light around me will soon be turned to night,”

You can see in the dark, for it is not dark to Your eyes.

    For You the night is just as bright as the day.

    Darkness and light are the same to Your eyes.

For You shaped me, inside and out.

    You knitted me together in my mother’s womb long before I took my first breath.

I will offer You my grateful heart, for I am Your unique creation, filled with wonder and awe."

Whenever whispers of "forgotten" or "not good enough" try to creep in (and they will), it will be good to go back to that park bench photo and see things once more from God's perspective, and be amazed, and grateful, and "filled with wonder and awe." And while there, maybe practice an ancient prayer that's worth carrying in our back pocket wherever we go…

“…Breathe in, ‘You are here, Lord’ and as you breathe out, ‘And I am with You.’” 

[Updated from "Where 'Forgotten' Doesn't Exist," originally published November 2017]

Backyard Wisdom

On a weekend like this, we could all use some wisdom from a warmer day…

…The red lantern was one of the few remaining things from my parents’ house that, for some reason, I held onto. I’m not a huge fan of red, and its fuel-burning capabilities had been dismantled. But I kept it because it was a fixture at their front door, hanging off to the side as a symbolic beacon of welcome to all who entered there. Several times, I’ve walked around my house looking for an appropriate place to put it, but it always looked out of place. Several times, I was ready to send it to the recycling center, until I walked out onto the porch one night this summer…

“This must be the place for it. Totally rustic like the rusty old lantern.” Except even here, there was no place to safely hang it, and having it sit on the floor or a table just looked…strange. So, I took that red lantern in hand, resigned once and for all to put it in the garage next to the other recycling center things awaiting the next trip. I decided to take the more pleasant short cut to get there—out the screen door to the backyard. And there it was—the perfect spot, even though it had been probably staring at me for months:

On the top step leading to the porch. A beacon of welcome to all who entered there, even if that “all” in the backyard would be me nine times out of ten. I don’t think that was coincidence. And I don’t think family nostalgia was the story ending that God had in mind. Because as I tucked the lantern into the corner away from the elements and door slams, while there was no thunderous voice from heaven, I sensed something quite loud and familiar from within…

“Your Word is a lamp for my steps; It lights the path before me.”—Psalm 119:105

And now at home on that top bakyard step leading to the porch, that old red lantern now has a small LED within it, helping to remind me that:

• God’s guidance, protection, wisdom, discernment and direction are gifts…but I also need to walk them out every time I step out the door.
• I have a purpose every single day…Every routine, every conversation is an opportunity to make a difference because I carry the Light within me wherever I go. To remember what Jesus said and still says: "You are like that illuminating light. Let the light shine everywhere you go, that you may illumine creation, so men and women everywhere may see your good actions, may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Me, and [who knows?] may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it.” (Matthew 5:16, Voice)
• I carry a weapon of hope and praise…because that Light can break through someone’s dark and heavy mood, and through all the negativities and unknowns of life.
• I have the world’s most reliable GPS…God’s words of life and His presence within me help me to see and trust for what is ahead, even on those days when I can’t see one step in front of me.

And unlike the LED inside it, that old red lantern on the backyard step nevertheless reminds me that though I grow weary at times, my Light never goes out, never needs batteries or solar power, and never loses power—the Light of the world is always true and right, sometimes piercing but always faithful, sometimes mysterious but never wavering, and always shining for my good so as not to hog it to myself but to lovingly reflect Him in some way to those along my path.

And so, to live in such a way as this:

“We can be the Light of the world without leaving our high beams on and annoying everybody.”—Bob Goff

Swoosh

(Photo: Jon Flobrant @unsplash.com)

“When the peace of God follows the purity of God's wisdom into our hearts and lives, it will affect those around us.”—David Jeremiah

One day, on a snowy morning much like the many we’ve had this week, I was cross-country skiing through a field near my home. The freshly-falling snow seemed to muffle all sounds except for the swoosh of my skis as they moved forward. But then overhead, I heard a loud “Whooo—whooo!” A beautiful owl, blending in with the snow and branches, was observing my progress. Wherever I went, the owl’s head seemed to follow, watching over every glide forward, pause, and work-around of obstacles.

As I continued on my snowy morning journey, I realized there may have been more to the moment than just a cool encounter with a beautiful woodland creature. And while swooshing in the silence, I thought…

When I grow up, if I ever really do, I want to be wise like that owl.

Someone who somehow sees life more clearly in front, to the sides, behind, and to the front again—all the time,

Who seems to know what to do, what to say, how to move, and also how and when not to do any of those.

Is that even possible?

Maybe there is a reason that the owl’s cry is “Whooooo.” Because much more than a beautiful thing to be grasped, wisdom is a Person to know and hear and obey…

“For the LORD gives skillful and godly wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6)

Maybe it wasn’t coincidence that the owl was perched high above me so that I had to look Up...

...Because when it comes right down to it, the beginning of wisdom that can be life-changing is leaning hard into the Source of all wisdom…“Reverence for the Eternal is the first step toward wisdom. All those who worship Him have a good understanding.” (Psalm 111:10)

Start there…and then look for God’s footprint, God’s breath, God’s love, in everything—the big decisions of life and the day-to-day, the forks in the road, and in the arts and at the games, at the jobsite, out in creation, and in conservations and observations at the coffee shop and at the recycling center.

Sometimes, it’s hard to find God’s wisdom in the news, but it’s there, somewhere, too.

And if I look and listen carefully, it can come through other people, 

Even those who see life differently than I do.

It’s especially in that dog-eared book filled with wonderful words of life...

“The teachings of the Lord are perfect; they give new strength. The rules of the Lord can be trusted; they make plain people wise.” (Psalm 19:7)

Amen to that!

But He not only speaks through the pages of that book, but everywhere.

Like here in this snowy field…if only I will listen.

Is that even possible?

“If you don’t have all the wisdom needed for this journey, then all you have to do is ask God for it; and God will grant all that you need. He gives lavishly and never scolds you for asking.” (James 1:5)

And I don’t even have to be grown up to qualify! Or an owl.

Just to remember, as the wisest Man who ever walked the earth said, ”follow Me.”

The world, even my own little world, will be better for it.

Swoosh….

Walking in Peace

A late fall afternoon along the Wapack Trail.

When having "one of those days" or "one of those weeks"
When answers to prayer don't seem to be happening fast enough
Or the way you had hoped

When you are forced to slow down when you'd rather go fast...

And even on those days and weeks when all is right and good

When it's easy to trust in your own wits

When it's too easy to say, "I've got this"...
It is always wise, and never crazy, to talk to yourself

About two simple things:

"Put your hope in the LORD.

Travel steadily along His path."

- Psalm 37:34, NLT

This, too, is worship.

"The soul that loves God has its rest in God and God alone. In all the paths that men walk in the world, they do not attain peace until they draw nigh to hope in God." 

- Isaac of Ninevah, early Church mystic

Paddling In the Thunderous Silence

Putting in at sunset at MacDowell Lake.

"It's when you take two words that are totally the opposite and you jam 'em together....like military intelligence, dark victory...thunderous silence...."

― Danny DeVito in "Renaissance Man"

The Sons of Korah who penned the lyrics to Psalm 46 got it long before we, or Danny DeVito, ever did―this walk of following in Jesus' footsteps is an oxymoron of endless and sometimes chaotic noise bubbling over a deep current of perfect peace. The same psalm that inspired one of the most famous, most majestic, and most floor-rattling hymns of our faith ― "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"―also whispers "be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46 is not either/or, but both. It is not trying to avoid or deny the reality of the former to escape to the latter, but rather God gripping us by the hand as if to assure us, "I AM with you in the midst of it all."

Life with the King of the universe is a wonderful "thunderous silence." If only we will look for it. If only we will take the time. If only we will look for Him. But how?

"That same day, Jesus left the house and went to sit by the sea."

―Matthew 13:1, The Voice

On the heels of a day filled with going from place to place, surrounded by people of all walks of life making requests, and demands, and challenges, and questions, and accusations, and all the while being hemmed in by so many people in great need and in impossible situations looking for answers or simply just a glimmer of hope, Jesus pursued the stillness of His Father's presence by, it would seem, slipping out to someplace quiet without anyone noticing.

With one little three-letter word, Jesus our example lives out the oxymoron of life that is Psalm 46. "Sit." Most of the time, when we go to our favorite get-away place, we're still moving when we get there. We want to walk, or hike, or jog, or restlessly go to this vantage point and then the next. All the while realizing that just because we are at our favorite place doesn't mean that the noise has gone away. Besides, some of the most thunderous noises are the ones that keep playing in our heads: "do this, you forgot that, what about this?, and what if?... and you really should have....and what a mess―how is this every going to sort itself out-ok-let-me-play-out-all-the-scenarios-and-put-it-on-repeat."

And in that one little three-letter word, Jesus seems to to be modeling:

Recharge your batteries and get a renewed Heavenly perspective.

Stop moving, even if your brain is at full tilt.

Stop completely.

Be still.

Breathe deeply.

Look up and see His majesty and presence all around you once more.

And while you're at it, don't forget to confess with your mouth what your brain knows is true but quickly forgets.

The beauty of what is known as flat water kayaking is that it forces you to stop moving your feet even while your brain is racing―when it is too busy being busy, a sort of multi-topic mental vertigo. And when all that internal noise rages, the launch from shoreline can provide a stunning counterattack. One evening not long ago, the lake was so calm, so still, so smooth as glass, it seemed like splashing the oars to move forward would be akin to being that one person who has a coughing spell in the midst of holy-hush moment of a play or concert...

What would Jesus do? What did Jesus do?

..."Sit."And so I sat. And just floated rather aimlessly, occasionally carefully dipping a paddle into the water as though I were tip-toeing. It was still rather noisy inside, but soon, the thunderous silence began to invade. Soon the multi-topic mental vertigo was drowned out by the sound of...silence. Not a breeze. Not a distant airplane or traffic. Even the birds flying around and about seemed to be on mute in reverence.

And then, as I had done a few times before but not enough lately, I pulled out my phone's bible app and didn't just think-read but broke the thunderous silence by doing something which seems a bit weird and awkward: confessing with my mouth what is True. Out loud. It seemed to echo around the lake:

“God is our shelter and our strength.

    When troubles seem near, God is nearer, and He’s ready to help.

So why run and hide?

No fear, no pacing, no biting fingernails.

    When the earth spins out of control, we are sure and fearless.

    When mountains crumble and the waters run wild, we are sure and fearless.

Even in heavy winds and huge waves,

    or as mountains shake, we are sure and fearless….

“Be still, be calm, see, and understand I am the True God.

    I am honored among all the nations.

    I am honored over all the earth.”

You know the Eternal, the Commander of heavenly armies, surrounds us and protects us;

    the True God of Jacob is our shelter, close to His heart.”

(Psalm 46: 1-3; 10-11)

Even in the silence, the noise inside didn't suddenly disappear; the realities of dilemmas and decisions and tough situations remained. But what was noticeable was this: they were put in their place, drowned out by a peace that passes all understanding. And all Creation praised the moment: The thunderous silence was broken by the distant call of an owl, and then of a loon, and then of a beaver trying to quietly sneak by without being noticed. And then most amazingly, as though God Himself was smiling through this moment of the rhythms of grace, I looked to the western sky and saw that great hymn and the last verse of Psalm 46 as a painting: a glorious mighty fortress in the clouds....

... Woah! A painting that spoke blessed assurance in the wonderful thunderous silence, "I've got you, and I've got this noise. And I always have. And I always will."

[Originally published summer of 2017]

Radar Up

Creation speaking up the road from my backyard

 “…and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is My dearly loved Son, who brings Me great joy. Listen to Him.’—Matthew 17:5, NLT

I know and believe God has spoken this way, and that He still does on occasion. And yet whenever I’m in a conversation where someone boldly announces they heard from God, why is that everything within me wants to stand at arm’s length?

Them: “God told me…”

Me thinking: “Really? In an audible voice? Are you sure? Told you how, exactly? And how did you know it was God?”

Some people sincerely claim they hear God speaking to them regularly in an audible voice, like the voice-over calling Dr. Bob in The Muppets’ “Veterinarian’s Hospital” segment. I'd love to hear God like that.

But this week, I heard birds. And I’m good with that...

“Having your spiritual radar up in constant anticipation of His presence—even in the midst of the joyful chaos and regular rhythms of your everyday living—is paramount in hearing God, because sometimes the place and manner you find Him is the least spectacular you'd expect.”

—Priscilla Shirer, author

... As I often do as part of my morning routine in the warm weather months, after I grabbed my coffee yesterday, I opened the door to the porch to greet the day and to once again breathe in the breath God has given me. But there was something else: it was wicked noisy. Not traffic, not windy, but very, very birdie. The “dawn chorus” of the early morning birds in the summer was nothing new, but the volume yesterday seemed exceptionally loud. Excited about something? A lot to say? Announcing to one another a new source of food or a new predator in the neighborhood? Huh. While marveling at the sound, and finding a sense of assurance that, yet again, everything that has breath does indeed praise the Lord for that breath, I thought that was that and went back inside to my usual spot near the window, with bible and notebook and a couple of devotional books.

But then, a “voice-over” of sorts that wasn’t audible but that seemed to be clearly directed at me. I opened the day’s selection from a devotional called “Because God…I Can,” written by one of my previous pastors, Steve Gammon. And the “God told me” voice-over was this:

“Ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:7-10)…Have you heard? God is speaking through His creation. As an artist speaks through his or her handiwork, God reveals Himself in the wonders He has made. Flowers, gemstones, and tropical fish eloquently shout the beauty of God and the brilliance of His glory. Snowflakes reflect the purity of God’s holiness, His grace to cover sin, and the sheer endlessness of His creativity. The lion, tiger and bear hint at His strength and fearlessness, and the soaring eagle exhibits the graceful moving of God far above all things. The trees point upward toward heaven, and the wind speaks God’s power to move heaven and earth. The birds show God’s care for all His creations. And every newborn baby affirms the miracle of life, which is of God. It is good for us to hear what God is saying through His creation. Are we listening today?”

And that would have been wonderful enough. But this morning, after a restless night for whatever reason, I opened that porch door again and intentionally listened for the birds’ cacophony. Not as loud as yesterday, but the reminder made me put up my spiritual radar again. And it was simply a sense, an inner voice: “check out Psalm 143.” And back in my usual spot by the window, I turned to this, and exhaled…“Let me hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for I trust in You. Teach me the way I should go for I lift up my soul to You.” (Psalm 143:8, NLV) …Hey, it’s true—God told me!

Sometimes, the most important thing God wants to tell us is that He is still in control, large and in charge, that His love for us never quits (even when we think He’s got to have a limit), and that no matter how crazy this world gets, God will always care immensely for all His creation and all He has made.

And sometimes, He will make it known loud and clear yet without a booming voice from above—even through something as simple as the morning birds. Radar up…

Paying Attention

Along the Marginal Way, Ogunquit, ME

 “But there is only one thing that is essential. Miryam [Mary] has chosen the right thing, and it won’t be taken away from her.”—Luke 10:42, Complete Jewish Bible

It seems that many of our dreams are just mixed up gobbledygook that’s easily forgotten, but then there are those that seem to say “pay attention to this.” The other night, I remember observing a long list of what seemed to be great ideas and thoughts, waiting for a winner to be selected as on a talent show. There were some obvious contenders and personal favorites, but when the winner was selected, everyone (myself included) was stunned.

“Wait, what? Who?” And way down this very long list, the winner’s name was found: “Mary.” Yes, that Mary. I sensed many around me were shaking their heads in unbelief. But in my dream, the word “Mary” seemed to jump off the list and pass right before my eyes… “Pay attention to this.”

The story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42  is one of the most polarizing for believers. I know I have a love-hate relationship with it. At first glance, the Home Depot “do-ers” (and that would be most of us born in the USA) who are wired more like Martha think Jesus is favoring the more contemplative Mary. We can get a bit defensive and try to counter with Paul’s words that “we are God’s workmanship created to do good works…that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10). Yeah!…Also true, but when Jesus speaks, it is best to follow the Leader. What might He be really saying?

A closer look at this story seems to indicate that it is not as it first appears—it’s not really about do-ers vs. contemplative personalities. After all, no one ever did as much amazing stuff as Jesus did. Instead, if we can get past the defensiveness, it seems to be about priorities and dealing with all the distractions of life that would try to get in the way of the one thing that really matters.

And Jesus is quite clear in identifying that greatest priority of them all: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. There is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” (Matthew 22:37, Message).

It is hard to do that—wait, it is impossible to do that—when we’re distracted. It is even hard to do that when we’re busy doing God-busy things. Doing the stuff is still important—it’s gotta get done—but before lifting a finger or getting distracted by what needs to be done, it would seem Jesus is saying to Martha and all of us down through the ages that no matter how busy we are or what needs to get done, the best and first move is always to take our cue from Mary and make sitting at the feet of Jesus (the position of a disciple) our priority. In case there are any doubts, it gets no clearer than this:

…“I am the Vine and you are the branches. Get your life from Me. THEN I will live in you and you will give much fruit. You can do nothing without Me.”

—John 15:5, NLV

Mary's is the position of the heart of worship—worship that is more than 20 minutes of singing, or going to church every Sunday but of one who seeks to trust and obey Jesus’ greatest commandment of them all, whether we are more Home Depot-inclined or contemplative. Because this is the position for our life’s purpose, effectiveness and fruitfulness, and its launching pad for becoming better reflectors of Jesus to those around us. We keep trying to look elsewhere, but it is found only here, and nowhere else…and deep down inside, our hearts know it and even long for it. It is something that needs frequent recalibrating, and thus sometimes the Lord sends us crazy dreams as a reminder, but it is still the right and only position that matters.

Because the story of Mary and Martha and Jesus and all the rest of them really comes down to this:

"I Am looking for a people that will simply pay attention to Me.”

—Andy Byrd, from “Fire and Fragrance”

Selah…