Choosing the Better Part

So here I am sitting in my office that is way too cluttered, and I am contemplating my schedule for this week. So much to do and so little time. I have to plan for a city-wide prayer and worship event, find the rest of my team for our Seder meal, finalize the drama part of the Good Friday service, prepare the lesson for Wednesday night's Youth Group, work with the senior pastor to plan Sunday's worship service, attend the elder meeting, lead one worship team rehearsal on Thursday and a second on Saturday evening, work with our stage-crew to begin the set prep for Easter and find time to celebrate a family birthday. To top it off I am beginning to feel like I might have adult ADD.

This weeks schedule scares me to death. I look at the week and do not see how I will be able to accomplish everything. I am scared of failing.

This past Sunday P.J. preached on Luke 10:38-42 a.k.a. the "Mary and Martha" passage. I was challenged by what he said. "The biggest enemy of intimacy with Jesus is business for Jesus". I am a pastor and I get paid to "do" ministry it is easy for me to get caught up with the business of ministry. Sometimes I do necessarily enjoy doing the things I do but they come with the job. There are times when I wish I could say no to certain things like "normal" people at our church can. There are times when I get frustrated because it seems like everyone is saying no and I am left holding the ball (notice I said "it seems"). It is times like these that I click into get 'er done mode and I know that I become Martha like and get so busy I forget to choose the better part. I also get so busy that I become jealous of those not helping and begin to complain about them (usually to myself and Jesus).

So why am I writing all of this down to post in cyber-space? It is because it helps me process through the situation. I know that very few, if any other people will ever see this or if they do happen to stumble across it, ever take time to read it. But on the off chance that someone else does happen to read it, maybe it is you who is reading this. I hope that somehow, if even in the tiniest way, it will help you and encourage you. I am also writing this because even in doing so I am realizing that even in the business of a hectic week, I can still choose the better part. I can still find time to steal away and sit at Jesus' feet to spend time with him soaking in all that he wants to teach me. I hope you will do the same

Peace
Todd