GRACE ANCHORED JOURNEY

Two years ago, in our little town, I was in awe of the stillness of the ocean. As I looked into the water, the sky was reflecting the bluish cotton-like clouds that seemed scattered across the horizon. It was peaceful and calm. It was a perfect picture of serenity. That photograph in my mind is so vivid that I tend to reminisce it every now and then. And I wanted to go back to that late afternoon ocean-gazing.

Stillness.

Like the undisturbed ocean during that time, stillness is what I have been learning these past few years. My life had always been hurried and busy. I used to like that anyway. But when God put me in a different direction, my life has started to change and I need to adapt to it. The life that I used to envision was no longer a part of my new journey. Yet life goes on.

For how many months that I was restrained to stay home, I pondered a lot of things about the deeper sense of life. Many years had gone by that my purpose had been summed up by the shallow definition of success and independence. It was during those moments that I had learned the value of stillness. Many times, that I had sat under that star apple tree without any words. It was quiet all around – only the chirping of those little birds and the oozing sound of the insects. There’s peace and calmness in my soul that I had not experienced for such a long time. No worries. No dramas. No chaos. I had spent so much time with the Lord. Much more than all my days wandering around the city trying to chase after the temporary and fancy things of life. That’s where I learned that stillness in found in sitting at the feet of Jesus.

As we go through season of change, God sometimes uses that to draw us closer to Him. To see His beauty and magnificent works that we tend to ignore because there are so many preoccupations in us.

The story of Martha and Mary is such a cliché story to many of us. Yet the lessons from that never goes outdated (Luke 10:38).

Our Preoccupations Grab our Focus on God

Martha was busy. She was distracted by serving. Though there is nothing wrong with serving others, (we need people like Martha in line with service) our priorities will determine our heart. In the case of Martha, her heart was set to serve the people more than to give His full attention to the Lord. Sometimes in our lives, the worries and preoccupations we have grab our focus on God. Those affairs that we have start to cover our spiritual eyes- blocking our foresight of Jesus. We all know that many of us have many things on the plate. I do understand that. Before, the moment I opened my eyes, I thought of the things that would overwhelm me through out the day. I lost my sight of God’s ability to handle all those for me. However, if we start counting the work that we have to bear, they become bigger until all we can see are those worries. Martha neglected the person of Jesus. And the result of that is that she became anxious and started to complain to Jesus, not minding who He was.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus

On the other hand, Mary chose to be still at the feet of Jesus. And He commended Mary because she had chosen the good part – to sit at His feet. I supposed that Mary loved Jesus very much that she was willing to put things behind to be able to spend time with Him. And that’s what I like about Mary. Sometimes I asked myself, “How can I be like Mary?” I want to always be still in Jesus.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus ends all the worries in life.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus brings comfort amidst turmoil.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus brings wisdom as we listen to His still small voice.

Examine ourselves right now. Do we find time to sit at the feet of Jesus? Quiet. Still. Humble. In these crazy times, it is tempting to get overwhelmed with so many things. Yet choosing to lay everything to Jesus and just be peaceful by His side will give security that amidst the chaos, we can be still at His feet.

May we learn to choose the seemingly unnoticed response to sit at the feet of Jesus – which is the best part.

May we become like that ocean – undisturbed – uninterrupted – in the presence of the Lord.