Hurry: Slowing.

A response to Jazz/Josh’s message.

Read 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.’

• Who do you sympathise with in this story? Martha, the busy hostess, or her seemingly irresponsible sister? 

• Why do we find it easier to do things FOR Jesus, than to BE WITH Jesus?

• Is there ONE THING you need to be doing? Are you doing it, or are you too busy?

• American blogger, Rikki Rogers, writes, “because busyness has become a status symbol—a sign that you are in demand and thus important—it’s easy to default to the word ‘busy’ to describe your life.” Any comment?

• The fourth century African Desert Father, Abba Moses, advised those called to a monastic life, “Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything.” But it is advice which must be understood in context. He was speaking to men with a particular vocation – as solitary contemplatives – urging them to be contented with their lives and remain true to their purpose and not to wander off into a different lane. It is advice not to give way to FOMO – that characteristically millennial ‘Fear Of Missing Out’ (which has actually been around ever since someone decided that fruit looked more interesting when endorsed by a snake promising the world!)

• What is your ‘cell’? Are you happy to stay there, or are you in a hurry to get away?

• What are the greatest challenges to living focused, deliberate, purposeful unhurried lives?

• What might ‘Holy Slowing’ look like for you?