The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. I feel stretched and tired. We've had a lot of family in town, which for us means a lot of traveling and missed naps and bedtimes. A good friend had a very serious surgery so I have been helping with her children here and there and taking in food. I've been caring for a sick toddler and a teething baby. I threw a shower for a friend in the ward who is having her first baby. I visited another sister who has been having health problems and brought her flowers and brought watercolored butterflies for her daughter. I said a prayer at a baptism I attended, I went and picked raspberries with a less active young woman. I've had 2 missionary discussions in my home and have had at least 5 different members/families over for dinner in the past few weeks. I even invited a traveling family history missionary over for lunch after church with the sister missionaries a couple Sundays ago.
I am not bragging. I am not saying all of this to show you how much service I do. I know we all do these things. We all serve. I am saying this to make a point.
In our Gospel Essentials class today we talked about charity. The story of The Good Samaritan was mentioned as an example of pure Christlike service and charity. Which it very well should be. It was not read in the class, so as my children nap right now I have taken it upon myself to reread:
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
As we discussed the meaning of the parable I offered a thought to the crowd. I mentioned that I have always wondered about the message of The Good Samaritan and what Christ was hoping to teach from the story. It is usually said that we shouldn't pass people up that need our help. I wonder where the priest and the Levite were going. Were they too busy to help or were they going home to help their wives with the children? Maybe they were attending a funeral that afternoon.
I have never thought that the parable was told to teach us that we should help everyone we pass. We would go crazy. There are so very very many people that need our help. So many that it makes my head swim. It overwhelms me.
I do think the message is not passing judgment on those who are in need of our service and to not withhold charitable service because something may be uncomfortable or inconvenient. It is also understood that the Samaritan taught a great lesson in complete and devoted service, coming back to check on his ill friend and paying the innkeeper to watch over the man. It is an illustration of pure charity indeed.
As I reread the Good Samaritan this afternoon I realized that a second story was purposefully added in Luke 10. The story of Mary and Martha:
38 ¶ Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
I feel like the second story clarifies the first. I have been serving and serving for weeks. I have been doing this and have been doing that. But for some reason I feel very empty. That isn't right! What is the problem? Isn't service supposed to fill me with such love and joy and happiness?
As I have thought about this I have realized that, yes, the service has filled me with happiness but something more was missing and this is the lesson I have learned from Mary. I have been a Martha. Busying myself with service and goodness but forgetting to sit at the feet of Christ and listen. Forgetting that my own soul needs to be nourished and fed. Forgetting to sit still and meditate on my own heart, for my own sake. My prayers have been short, my scripture reading scant, my temper the same.
"Martha, Martha thou art careful and troubled about many things, but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
I think that Luke chapter 10 was perfectly written to give us a message of balance. Do good unto others, but don't forget to do good unto yourself.
11 comments:
Very good insight, and a good reminder to all of us.
I stumbled upon your blog and I guess I hope that doesn't creep you out as your words have been something that have been edifying me and helping me to not feel isolated and alone. (I promise I'm not some weird stalker or something)
That being said I was recently attending a continuing education class focusing on the parables and I learned during that class that the priest and the Levite were likely (based on geography, preceding scriptures and culture) coming from the temple in Jerusalem. Where they had again likely been practicing their religion and learning how to become who Father in Heaven wanted them to become. So in a sense they were more focussed on having the knowledge of what was taught in the temple without putting the principles into practice.
I like your comparison to Martha and Mary. Perhaps between the two an important message knowledge alone is not enough, and serving alone is not enough essentially "moderation in all things".
Thanks for allowing me to be a reader.
Cynthia
Cynthia
Thank you Cynthia for your thoughts. That must have been very interesting class. How great to live in proximity to such opportunities. I am glad you seized it.
Your insight is great. It creates a different dynamic if you have some background on where they are coming from or going. And the lesson learned from that is a good one.
My husband told me this quote once,
"Going to church no more makes you a Christian than standing in a garage makes you a car"
We need to practice what we preach and believe.
Thank you for your comment. I am happy that you find some enjoyment in what I write.
Keep up the good work!
The basic lesson I pick up from Christ's story of the "Good Samaritan" is that the Samaritan was so humble that he was willing to help somebody who it was not "pupular" to help. We need to have that same attitude, we help and we are not "too good" to help a person of any background. We serve where we are needed. That is the great magic of Christ's parable. We get out of them as much as we are ready to receive.
Inger, I agree that the parables are there for us to learn from individually. Two people can read the same chapter in the scriptures and come away with two completely different messages. We read the scriptures to answer our own questions and to speak truth to us personally.
I loved what you learned form The Good Samaritan as well.
Actually I did not express myself very well. The underlying message is that I am simple minded and get a simple idea of humility and being charitable, whereas you were ready to receive more! Good for you Tiffany. Also, I love the pictures on here!
That's what I thought you meant. I hope my comment didn't make you think otherwise. I was just reiterating what you said - that we all receive what we are ready for.
You are a good example of humility and charity in my life :)
Really interesting Tiffany. I totally understand what you are saying. It is overwhelming sometimes to just know that you can always be serving someone and all the time spent doing random things instead of serving is....wasted. But you are right, I don't think that's the message. We can't run faster than we have strength and the Martha story is also an incredibly important lesson to sit still and listen.
Lately Martha and Mary has been one of my favorites. I often compare myself to Martha - busying myself around the kitchen, making my house spotless, working on bookkeeping, etc.. I came across an article on lds.org about how there are Marys and Marthas and how it's ok to be both...we just need to balance the two. It's good to serve, but also good to listen and learn. It's good to have a nice house, but better to have children with testimonies. It's the whole "good, better, best" concept. I think your blog was a great reminder how we need to do both. Thanks!
Thanks Trisha, Do you mean there are both as in there are both in the world and that is okay or do you mean WE can be both at different times and that is okay. I think you meant the second.
Mrs. Ruckert I have been reading your blog all day and feeling very inspired to get a fresh sleep tonight and start a new way of life tomorrow a life full of living rather then getting by thank you for the inspiring words. but i had to make a comment on this post... i am so glad you posted this because i have been trying to devote my time to serving and helping others but i realize now from your post i have been very selfish in this act i was serving others so i could receive blessings in return and found myself with the same empty feeling as you now i notice that I as well have been doing poorly on my personal prayer and scripture study I now know I need to serve with a more selfless heart and also give time to kneel at Christ's feet and listen and commit myself to a more devoted mind during personal scripture study and prayer. thank you so very much for posting this message it is just what i needed to hear. you saved me thank you! love a former student Kami Rosen
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