Greetings,
Early next week Tony’s mum celebrates her birthday so she is coming to dinner Sunday night. When people come over for a special celebration meal there is a sense of heightened activity as rooms are cleaned, the table is set and food is prepared.

Elizabeth is excited to prepare this meal as a gift for Nanny and I know that Nanny will love it. I wonder, however, if the thing that will mean the most is the conversation and sharing of stories that will happen when we are all together.
I often worry about whether the house is clean enough, and can be rushing around to finish things just before people arrive. This has resonances for me with the story of Martha and Mary that is the focus reading for this week. As does this poem that I came across in an old book. Written by Lois Blanchard Eades, and entitled If Jesus Came to Your House, the first verse goes like this –

When you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door –
with arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly visitor?
Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in?
Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they’d been?
Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymnbooks out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in or would you rush about?

Like Martha, we can always find things to do and there is a time when things need to be done, but like Mary we need to slow down so we don’t miss those quiet opportunities that come along. If we are always worried and rushing we can miss out on what is really important.
My prayer for us is that we remember the words of Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Blessings – Rev Heather.