I’ve spent a lot of time these last few weeks thinking about my last year. My last several years, really. I’ve been reflecting on the things that have brought me joy and the things that have put me to the test. There are many of both. I can say with certainty that my forties have been transformative as God upends some of my motives and the deeper places of my heart. And if I had to guess, I think He’s far from finished.
As I head into a new year, I am certainly thinking about my goals and hopes for 2016. I think there is wisdom in taking time to evaluate where you’ve been and where you’re going. Socrates was no fool when he said that the unexamined life is not worth living.
But, one thing that has really resonated with me this year is embracing a guiding theme for my year. I needed a way to tie some things together.
In that light, I’m embracing 2016 as a year of tending to my soul. As a disciple of Jesus, I could say that I’m always tending to my soul. Certainly, the biggest, most pressing need of my soul has been satisfied by His complete and perfect sacrifice on my behalf. I was in darkness. Now, I live in light. I was an enemy of God’s. Now, I am His precious daughter. I was a slave to sin. Now, I am free to choose righteousness. Yes, my soul is restored.
But, in the practical day-to-day of living, I haven’t been tending to it very well. I have become busy, stressed, and hurried. I’ve been neglecting my soul. What have I been doing instead? Usually working my to-do list. I’ve grown a ton this year in managing my obligations and getting crap done. But, if I’m honest, I’ve also done my fair share of internet surfing, social media indulging, and mindless iPad gaming. Oh, and worrying. Mostly about my teenagers. But also about other stuff like writing deadlines.
Wasted moments in between a life of rushing, rushing, doing, doing.
The noise of it all has left me feeling empty even when I have downtime.
It kind of all crystalized for me when I was preparing to teach at a women’s Christmas event for a church on Cleveland’s west side this December. Friends, I stood in front of several hundred women that evening. I was the speaker for their important outreach event. I’m grateful because I think God used me and some women came to know Jesus that night. But, I’m pretty sure God was speaking to me as much as to anyone else.
Do you know what my topic was? It was about sitting at Jesus’ feet like Mary had done. The Bible tells us that Mary had chosen the good part which could not be taken away from her. She had tended to her soul. By focusing on her Lord while sitting with Him and listening to Him. Her sister Martha, on the other hand, was worried and bothered by lots of other things. And, Jesus in His compassion for Martha, called her out on it. I could almost hear Him, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about sooo many things…” Lovingly, tenderly putting His finger on the source of her angst. Not judging her or condemning her. But loving her and wanting something better for her.
And, do you know what Martha had been so busy doing? Serving Jesus. At least that’s how it appeared on the surface. I suspect she is a lot like me and there were a whole host of other motives thrown in there. But, nevertheless, she was serving. Hosting a bunch of unexpected guests in her home. She was making them a meal and getting them water from the well and tidying up… you know the drill. The poor girl was just working her to-do list. The one Jesus had just added to by showing up unannounced. Who can blame her for being worried and bothered?
And, yet, Jesus invited her to stop. To tend to her soul by sitting with Him a bit.
And I wondered in that moment, is it possible for me to do what needs done in life (because, let’s face it, there IS a lot that needs done) but still have a posture of sitting with Jesus? An inclination of letting Him tend my heart/soul? Could I create rhythms and focus in my day in order to give space for God’s grace to drill down deeper? And, in addition to creating more of that space, could I even begin to trust God to turn my ordinary tasks into sacred moments lived unto Him?
And, I heard His response to my question. It sounded suspiciously like Luke 10.
Shannon, Shannon, you are worried and bothered about so many things. But only one thing is necessary. Come choose the good portion which will not be taken away from you.
And so was born my theme for 2016: The Year of Tending to My Soul. May it be so for the many years ahead.
