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Wagon of Rocks By Janet Keisel Years ago Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong admonished us to simplify our lives. I think most of us are still working on this, trying to find our rhythm.
e live in a hectic world where we are pulled in many directions trying "to do it all." We have to make choices every day as to where our time and energy will be spent. I've been giving a lot of thought to this subject of being "crazy busy," as Edward Hallowell describes it in his book by that title, CrazyBusy. Many of us try to do two things at once or "multitask," a common phrase in our modern world. Dr. Hallowell points out that "multitasking is like playing tennis with two balls, or three or four. When what you are doing is important, multitasking is a practice to be avoided. It is a myth that you can perform two tasks simultaneously as well as you can perform one." So, if multitasking isn't the answer, what is? I've been reading the book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver. She starts the book by putting into her own words how she thinks Martha felt when Jesus came to the door. Martha would have been thrilled to prepare a meal for Jesus and His disciples. "This must be no ordinary meal -- it is for THE Messiah. So she is sending the servants here and there...kill the fatted calf, soak the lentils, knead the dough...so much to do... Where's Mary? If Mary would just help, I could have time to fashion an ark from the goat cheese and carve the fruit into little animals marching two by two" (pages 3-4). As I find myself busy with too many things to do, I ask myself, "Am I trying to carve an ark out of goat cheese?" We need balance in our lives in order to get the important things done. Of course, there is a time for carving arks out of cheese (I'm not so sure about the animals carved from fruit), but we must be careful not to put too much emphasis on those things and not enough on the better part, as Christ told Martha. Dragging a wagon of rocks The book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World tells a story to give a visual aid for sorting out what is important and helping us to achieve that balance: The story is told of a man who met God one day. God asked him to take a wagon with three stones to the top of the mountain. God gave the man specific instructions, sketching a map in the dust. The man cheerfully set off pulling the wagon behind him. As he was going through a small village, a friend stopped him and asked him what he was doing. He explained that he was taking the wagon of rocks to the top of the mountain. The friend became excited as he explained he was just thinking about how he was going to get his rock to the top of the mountain, and would the man be willing to take the rock in his wagon as well? Happily, the man with the wagon took the friend's rock and started on his way.
About that time God came to his side and asked what the problem was. "You gave me a job that is too hard for me," the man sobbed. God walked over to the wagon. "What is this?" He held up a big piece of shale and tossed it on the ground. The man explained about his friend who asked him to bring it up the mountain. God continued to unload the wagon, removing both light and heavy items until only the three stones God had given him were left in the wagon. "Let others shoulder their own belongings," God said gently. "I know you were trying to help, but when you are weighted down with all these cares, you cannot do what I have asked of you" (pages 51-52). What has God asked us to do? Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Dump the extra rocks
Sometimes an extra rock we carry is our worry about a problem out of our control. Maybe you feel someone has made a wrong decision. If you aren't asked for advice, sometimes you have to just tell yourself, "That is his (or her) rock." You may be able to unload a rock by talking to your pastor and then putting the worry out of your mind. There are times those rocks are heavy and hard to get out of your wagon.
After reading this wagon of rocks story, I find myself thinking, That's not my rock. Or, that rock isn't important. In my mind I toss it out. This concept helps me to let go. Recently, we had the opportunity to have our granddaughters stay with us for several days. As the time went on, the house became messier and messier, but the time with my grandchildren was more important. As my friend pointed out, Emily, Allison and Daylin are more important rocks than a clean house. Label your rocks A friend of mine has labeled her three rocks Christian, Wife and Mother/Grandmother. Then she can look at what she's doing and see if it falls into those primary categories. You can use the analogy however it best fits your life.
God must come first -- His rocks are the most important. We've all heard the story about putting the big rocks in a jar first, then filling it with smaller rocks, sand and water. We have to put the big rocks in first or we'll never get them in later. We are told in Romans 12 that the Body of Christ has many members, each with a different gift. This means we all have different jobs to do. Certainly, we need to be involved in service (faith without works is dead, James 2:20). But we don't have to be involved in EVERY good service or we will be so busy doing things, we won't have time for the basics: Bible study, prayer and fasting and building our relationship with God. What's in your wagon? There is a commercial that asks, "What's in your wallet?" I'd like to ask, "What's in your wagon?" Are you overloaded with unimportant rocks taking up your time and energy? Many times the things we are involved with are positive things. But, for instance, if you're reading so many other books (even good books) that you don't have time to read the Bible, then you have to throw out some rocks.
Take a look at the rocks in your wagon. I hope this analogy can help us all to choose the better part as Mary did (Luke 10:42). Further reading A Christian's life is often challenging and requires us to lean on God. For more information about living a Christian life, please request our sister publication magazine. Copyright 2008 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved. |
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Keywords: simplify life busy stress overwhelmed fear God keep commandments
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