As I consider this Holy Week, I am keenly aware of the state of my own mind and heart. These last few years have been hard. I feel as though I’ve lost a piece of myself along the way. I have been hesitant to be fully honest and open with God about the emotions I’ve experienced. I’ve prayed for sure, but my conversations with Him about my pain have been few. Perhaps deep down I think that I shouldn’t feel the hurt that I’ve felt, and therefore if I don’t keep bringing it to God, then it’s no longer there. I’ve discovered that I have developed a coping mechanism, and it’s called activity.
As long as I stay active, I don’t have to acknowledge how I feel. I don’t have to spend time understanding where those emotions are coming from. But there is a problem with an abundance of activity: it keeps us from communing with Jesus.
This is one of the great tragedies of western culture. We are all active, and we wear the word “busy” like some badge of honor. I would encourage you to rip that badge off, because it’s a false sense of worth. God does not love us more because we are busy. Sure, He calls us to a life of service, but that life loses its purpose if our activity keeps us far from Him.
Please keep in mind that Holy Week does not have to be a flurry of activity. There are special things we can do to help us remember the love of our Savior, but those same things can serve to distract us if we aren’t careful. I offer these events recorded by Luke:
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42, NLT
Let us not forget to be still and sit at the feet of Jesus. Abide in him; stay connected to him as branches stay connected to a vine. Don’t rely on special events or productions to bring you closer to him. Instead, spend time with him before you go to that special service or observance. Allow that event to be an outpouring of worship and service that is born out of a relationship cultivated by simply being still and listening to him.
Remember, he doesn’t need your activity. He wants your heart.
Dan Londeree 