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October 25, 2004
Encouragement for Today
The Killing Fields
Rebecca Ingram Powell, Speaker Team member, author
Devotion:
As a teenager, I went to see the movie, "The Killing Fields." It was an
Academy Award winner, and my English teacher insisted that we see it.
She even offered extra credit for a ticket stub and a one-page synopsis.
A friend and I decided to take her up on it.
When we arrived at the cinema, the place was packed. It was a gorgeous
Saturday, but the awards show had just been broadcast that week, and now
everyone wanted to see this film. Nearly every seat was filled, and
people were still filing in. After the trailers, as the film was
starting, a woman turned in to my row to claim the empty seat beside me.
At that moment, the power went off in the theater. The film cut off
abruptly, along with the aisle lights. It was pitch black.
The woman, who happened to be somewhat heavy-set, did not pass me and
locate the empty seat on my right. She just plopped down right on top of
me. Evidently, she thought she had made it to the vacant chair. She had
not.
Brought up in a Southern home where good manners were very important (We
didn't even hang up on telemarketers!), I was definitely in a quandary.
I wanted to be nice about informing this dear woman that the seat
beneath her was occupied. I certainly didn't want to make a scene. After
all, something like this could happen to anyone.
I tapped the woman's shoulder. "Uh, excuse me. Ma'am? Excuse me," I
said. Unfortunately, the lady didn't respond. She didn't hear me. She
didn't seem to notice there was another person's body underneath hers.
Despite a few more attempts to discreetly notify this woman of my
presence, it appeared she was going to stay put. Then I began to feel
woozy. In fact, I thought I was going to pass out.
I have a tendency to be just the teeniest bit claustrophobic. I don't
like crowds or tight places. In a theater as dark as the depths of a
cave and underneath a large and apparently hard-of-hearing person, I can
get a little freaky. Abandoning all measure of good taste and Southern
courtesy, and summoning what I believed at the time to be my last
breath, I shrieked, "Ma'am! There is a person under you!"
Every so often, I feel as though I'm seated once again in that crowded
theater. It's a gorgeous day, but I'm about to be another fatality on
the killing fields of busyness. My to-do list has crawled up in my lap,
and I can't see over it. It's heavy, and I'm uncomfortable. When life
gets this crazy, I know it's time to step back and re-examine my
priorities.
It's a classic case of the Christian woman's balancing act. It's the
tightrope that stretches between Jesus' friends Martha and Mary. Christ
accused Martha of being busy with many things, but Mary was lauded as
one who had made the right choice: to sit at Jesus' feet. But how does a
busy Christian woman find the time--and an empty seat--for sitting down?
Mary found time to sit at Jesus' feet because she was able to
prioritize. She made wise choices.
I need to spend more time at the feet of the Lord, listening,
worshiping, and being still. Jesus said, "Martha, Martha! You are
worried and upset about so many things, but only one thing is necessary.
Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her"
(Luke 10:41). This morning I substituted my name in place of Martha.
Christ's words sank deep into my heart. The Amplified Bible explains
that Martha was "overly occupied and too busy" and that Mary had "chosen
the good portion [that which is to her advantage]." Look at your plate.
Have you chosen the good portion? Summon your last breath and remind
yourself that there is a person underneath the schedule whose spirit
needs time to commune with God, escaping the killing fields of busyness.
Go to Him now. He has saved you a seat.
My prayer for today:
Lord, it's happened again. I'm too busy. It all looked good as I was
coming down the line and filling my plate with activities, plans, and
projects. But now it simply looks like too much. Like a child whose eyes
were bigger than her stomach, I want to put some of it back. Help me
choose only the good portion.
Application steps:
What are your life's roles? List them on a piece of paper.
Are you a wife? A mother? A manager? A friend?
List your jobs in proper order, remembering that "child of God" must be
in first place.
Reflection points:
Do you feel uncomfortable just being still?
Do you feel you must always be doing something?
Is their any white space on your calendar?
What can you do to access more quality time spent at Jesus' feet?
Power verses:
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
"But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly
high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will
walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)
Additional Resources:
A Woman's Secret to a Balanced Life - Finding God's Refreshing
Priorities for You by Sharon Jaynes and Lysa TerKeurst
http://www.gospelcom.net/p31/resources/secretbalanced.html
Becoming a Woman Who Listens to God by Sharon Jaynes
http://www.gospelcom.net/p31/resources/womanlistens.html
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