Finding the “Better” Way

       

   “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.” *

Having to support a large family by teaching and coaching, my parents found a way to take very affordable vacations. We would pile in the car and go to the mountains, desert or the coast, camping in a tent and cooking our meals on an old Coleman stove.

On one trip to the desert, mom and dad decided to borrow Grandpa’s trailer. We three older kids were fine with camping out; but the twins were just toddlers and the convenience of the trailer would make it easier on mom to take care of them.

When we reached the turn-off from the highway to the campground, dad had to drive over a terrible dirt road riddled with washes and potholes. It was so beat up that at times the car would be going up one side of a wash while the trailer was going down the other.

 Dad drove very slowly and carefully not wanting to damage the borrowed trailer. After several miles of bumping along, we finally reached the camp site, only to discover that there was an asphalt road leading to the campground not far away! Needless to say, dad took the asphalt road on the way out.

It often takes a time of feeling dissatisfied or unhappy about something until one day there is an ‘aha’ moment, a realization that a simple change would make things easier. After that realization comes a sense of relief, along with the thought “Why didn’t I try this years ago?” or “If only I had known…”        

When we moved into our home in Michigan, we had trouble getting in and out the heavy front door. Opening took two hands and a great deal of yanking on the doorknob. Closing meant slamming with a great deal of force, causing a deafening bang.       

Al and I ended up using the side door most of the time anyway. It was much easier to open and close. But when company came or the doorbell rang, we’d have to grapple with that clunky front door.

When a contractor came over to discuss some remodeling projects, we showed him the door, thinking that it probably needed to be replaced.

 “Look, it’s hard to open,” I said while tugging on the doorknob.

 “Well,” he said, “all you have to do is turn the knob all the way to the right when you’re opening it and do the same thing when you’re closing it. There’s nothing wrong with this door!”

As he demonstrated it for us, I was thinking, “You’re kidding! You mean that’s all we had to do?” After living in the house for nearly four years, the problem was solved in just a few minutes, saving us money as well as strained muscles.

When we were having trouble with the electric can opener, we were sure that it needed to be replaced. Some cans would open easily, but others would just spin around and around. Finally, I realized that the paper labels were the culprit. By taking the label off first, the teeth of the opener could fasten down firmly on the metal rim. Another problem solved!

In the story from Luke, Jesus told Martha that she was worried and upset about many things. Perhaps she had been plagued by worry for a long time. Jesus wasn’t saying that he didn’t appreciate her efforts to fix dinner, but that like Mary, she could find peace of mind if instead she calmed herself and focused on Him.

I can relate to Martha’s being distracted, worried and more caught up with dinner preparations than with her special guest. Can you? There was a better way for Martha, just as there is for us when we let Jesus take control of our lives.

“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 only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” *Luke 10:38-41 NIV

(This picture was taken by Al's sister Ann who has done extensive mountain biking near Jackson Hole Wyoming!)