Friday, July 22, 2022

Diane Harvey

Here in This Light

I have always loved pondering the story of Mary and Martha as found in Luke 10:38-42; and I am grateful for the wisdom and insights that Sam DeFlitch shared this past Sunday as she opened the story for us with her sermon. Over the years, sometimes I have focused on Mary, other times on Martha; but in my heart of hearts I believe the story is really about Jesus, about his need simply to be heard. His need to rest, and to be listened to fully with our complete attention. And when I think about that, I am chastened about how much I need to keep practicing such patient and complete listening. Not being in a hurry to respond, not being distracted by other things, but being fully present to another and being fully in the moment. A writer I have recently discovered, Andrea Skevington, has a poem that helps me to remember that Jesus longs for us to listen – to him, to one another, to our hurting world.

Mary, sister of Martha, at your feet for the first time

You came in search of rest

away from the road,

that bright, shadeless road,

where so many came,

and you gave so much.

You came and sat down

in the cool room,

the shutters pulled

against the heat,

and Mary sat, too,

and it was enough.

Just sat, quietly at your feet,

her face turned up to

yours as she listened.

And you saw how the light

fell across her,

as if for the first time.

And this is what you want,

what you long for.

Not the elaborate

preparations we would make,

not ourselves swept and

scrubbed to perfection,

our acts and our

thoughts impeccable

in lifeless rows,

but to be, here in this light,

to be, here at your feet