“Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’” (Luke 10:38-42)

When I was a college student, I was very diligent.  My parents were paying for my tuition, and I felt that I owed them my best efforts in my studies.  One beautiful spring day, a friend found me holed up in a library carrol, hunched over my books.  I had been in that posture for several hours, and my friend succeeded in coaxing me away from my studies by telling me that it was a windy day and she had an extra kite.

We packed a picnic lunch and set off on the short walk to a field where we could fly our kites safely away from trees. After a couple wonderful hours of sun, conversation, laughter, and piloting marginally cooperative kites, I started to feel guilty. I needed to get back to my books, back to my work, back to the reason why I was in college in the first place.  I told my friend that there just wasn’t enough time to get it all done, and I had to cut our time short.  My friend listened patiently, and then said to me words that I have never forgotten.  She said, “Art, there’s always time to fly a kite.”

Perhaps this is akin to what Jesus meant when he said to Martha, “you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part.”

There is so much in our lives that worry and distract us. Some of it truly is important and worthy of our attention. Much, however, ultimately is not very important, and in giving ourselves over to worry and distraction, we sacrifice the present moment of joy and grace and life that God is giving us.  Each day, each hour, each minute, is a gift from God. Each moment is an opportunity for us to experience the abundant life that Jesus promises. Worry and distraction have the power to steal those moments from us.  

As the days become longer and springtime finds its way to Minnesota, may we take time to relish in the warmth of God’s love. May we take a walk, feel the breeze, dip a paddle, laugh with friends, smell a wildflower, marvel at a bumblebee, enjoy a meal with family, sing and dance, swim and splash. 

Lord knows there is so very much to worry about in our lives and in the world, and those distractions aren’t going away any time soon. In the midst of all that, however, may we hear the voice of Jesus calling us to the better part.  May we hear our Lord beckoning us to spaces of abundance. May we hear God reminding us that there’s always time to fly a kite.

~Father Art