Joanne Heim says not to multitask in her book… and we usually don’t do it well anyhow, right? I know I don't. I usually put oddities in the fridge and forget boiling pots! BUT I honestly have to say that I NEED to multitask to SURVIVE in our family at this point in life. Anyone agree with that ??
But here is what I think the idea is.. we have to live in each MOMENT. Annie Dilliard once wrote, "How we spend our day is, of course, how we spend our life." And really when you think about it... how we spend our moments is how we spend our day… right? Living simply instead of simply living… involves intention and focus and purpose. I can be scattered in different directions sometimes… trying to hustle and thinking of my to do list. Just getting things done to get on to something else and then in the midst of it all looking to a time when I will do something else… something perhaps more exciting or enjoyable. Are you like that, too?
Solomon, greatly gifted with wisdom wrotein Ecclesiastes, that whatever our hand finds to do, we should do it with all our might. I need to remind myself to pay attention to the moment I am in. Whatever I am doing right now is what I am to give my all to… Am I giving my all in how I look after my kids, my house, and whatever else my hands are doing?
I don’t know about you, but I honestly have many times that I look very little like Snow White cleaning and smiling or rushing to get 4 lunches ready while making supper and trying to keep the kids from fighting. But I have to make a choice about my attitude (there is that word again!!), to be joyful at each moment and to not always be looking ahead, thinking it will be better in the next moment or worrying about what else has to be done. I am reminded as it says in Matthew 6. “Don’t worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble on it’s own.” Ultimately we don’t know what tomorrow will bring either, right??
I laugh when I think of Mary and Martha in the Bible… two sisters arguing about getting dinner ready. Martha the older sister is upset… she seems to be the one doing all the work, trying to get things just so, while Mary is JUST SITTING THERE!!! I used to side with Martha and think it was so unfair… But now it makes me laugh because I see myself in Martha. She is lost in the details… getting dinner and the house and everything just so. BUT what is she missing??? She is missing the moment… JESUS is in her house!!!! Lost, scattered and fussing in the details she is missing out. I hear Jesus voice to me, when he says “Martha ..Martha… You are worried and upset about many things. There is only 1 thing needed.” Simply put… _______________, ___________________, Stop getting lost in the details. Live right now and see what is important.
