Between Faith and Works
Martha or Mary…which am I? While working as a youth leader, I had the chance to take my group to Idaho to participate in Pacific Northwest Cross Connections (PNCC). This is a week long experience where we get the chance to help the people of the community who need it the most. They are shut-ins, people with health issues, mobility issues, and the extremely poor. We did everything from cleaning house, weeding the garden, painting the house, to building wheelchair ramps.
As a “leader”, I had many responsibilities. I found myself running around making sure all the supplies we needed were ready, and, most importantly, the kids were ready to go on time…and in the right vehicle. Once at the work site there was so much to do with making sure everyone had what they needed for their project and they understood what to do. I was always worrying if all was going well, however, I felt needed and knew my job was important to helping the homeowners.
Then one day we were painting a house for Ethyl, who was a shut-in, and I had to use the restroom. I noticed that Ethyl was watching The Price Is Right and I mentioned I like watching that show. She patted the seat beside her and invited me to watch it with her. Still thinking about all the work that needed to be done…I sat, we watched, we talked. I learned about her life. How she grew up, where she went to school, heard so many funny stories about her siblings and their shenanigans. She told me how her faith is pretty much how she keeps going. Praying and believing and listening is how she lives. I learned a lot from her.
I believe I am both Martha and Mary, and I think the world needs both. The Martha in me worries, and makes sure things get done. The Mary in me takes a step back and listens, observers, and learns.
Before we left that day, Ethyl asked if she could pray with us. I don’t remember her prayer word for word, but here is the main body…
Prayer: Dear Lord, please watch over the people of the world…the good-doers and the not-so-good-doers. May they listen to Your Word and ingest it into their soul. In Your name we pray, Amen
Lori Kimbel