“Wow, I’ve been so busy that…”

 

This morning I recognized that “wow, I’ve been so busy that I haven’t blogged in nearly a month.”  Looking back, I would say that June is always a bit busy with the kids out of school, six family birthdays, our anniversary, and a host of other events.  This year has been particularly eventful as we’ve added a few to this list.  Please allow me to highlight some of these.

The first week of the month is always our TruthAtWork Chapter President’s Summit.  This is an annual event where all that Chapter Presidents across the nation gather.  It’s always a great week as those of us that commune regularly via technology throughout the year get to see each other face-to-face.  Equally enjoyable toward the tail end of that week is a day I spend with TruthAtWork brothers from out of town in prayer and my spirtual retreat day Friday which allows me to reflect upon the week as well as cast vision into the next year.  More to come on that down the road.

This June has also been particularly eventful with our son, Chris Jr, graduating from high school.  Yes, if you monitor my social media, you’ve likely seen many pictures capturing the memories.  He’s headed to Purdue next year to study engineering.  If you’ve ever had anyone graduate or recall yours, you likely recognize that it’s not just your graduation party, its 10, 20, or even 30+ other parties you get to enjoy over the month’s timeframe.

And, if that weren’t enough, for the past year we’ve been praying about selling the house and in May felt we had confirmation to do so.  So, on June 12th (my mom’s birthday), we listed our house followed by a flood of showing on our anniversary, June 13th.  If you’d like to view our house or share with others please view here.  Most ask, “where are you moving?” to which we have various responses; however, is best summarized by “walking by faith, not knowing where”.  Yes, like Abraham and many other great leaders of faith in the scriptures, we feel God’s guidance in letting go and trusting that He’ll make the path clear for next steps in the right timing.

Finally, if that weren’t enough, I began writing my first book this past month and am now over 75% complete with the initial draft.  Thus, my writing energy has gone into the book versus my blogs.  I look forward to completing this over the summer and seeing what God has in store for it in the future.  As I’ve shared with many, even if I never publish it, it’s been a great reminder of His presense and faithfulness in our lives as we learn to surrender to His leading.

So, given all this, the passagle of scripture God has brought to mind today and a theme over the past few weeks has been about Mary and Martha.  Please allow me to share the passage from Luke 10:38-42 NIV:

At the Home of Martha and Mary

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 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!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Yes, over the past few days, God has been reminding me as to what a “Martha” I can be.  Now, based off the month I’ve decribed, one might understand; however, in my case, it’s my thought life that I’m such a Martha.  You see, I’m blessed to be in a season where I don’t have to walk out the door daily to go to a traditional vocation.  To some extent, the events listed above have been my vocation the past month.  So, while I’m busy, the area I’m most busy is in my thought life.  Rather than be thankful for the season, sitting at the Lord’s feet listening, my mind is going in circles “trying to figure it out”.  

Oh, one might agree that there is plenty to “figure out” running your own business, sending kids off to college, and not knowing where we’ll be living by the end of the summer; yet, that’s just it.  When you commit to a life of surrendering control to your Heavenly Father, you don’t need to “figure it out”.   Like many examples we’ve seen in the past, you simply need to wake up every day, seek His will, put your hand to the plow working on those things He leads, and don’t look back.  And, some days, what He might be asking you to “be” is Mary versus “doing” all the things of Martha.

Can you relate? 

(Note:  The picture on today’s post is of me sitting at the feet of my earthly father this past weekend for Father’s Day at the ballfield.  You might make the tie to the blog post; however, if not, it’s just a selfie of me and my dad.)