Reflections on being a "Martha"

Today I posted this on my Facebook page yesterday ...

Something I've learned about myself in the last few weeks... In a crisis I might offer to cook for you before I offer to pray for you... That is definitely the "Martha" coming out in me.

By midnight 35 people had "liked" my post... I think I'm not the only one who feels this way...

I had this realization when my friend and neighbor fell ill at home and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Everyone stepped up to care to things as needed.  Someone took the preschooler home, another met the middle school bus.  And all I could think to do was cook.  Before I even realized the words had come out of my mouth, I found myself saying, "If they need dinner tonight, I can get that together without any problem."  And so I came home, opened the pantry and the freezer, and started putting together a meal that would be appreciated by two teenage boys and a preschooler.

And while I was cooking, I thought about all of the time that I have spent in the kitchen in the last two
weeks... and in my life.  I thought about the joy that preparing food for others gives me... about how I keep my kitchen stocked for emergency meals.  I thought about how being busy made me feel useful.  And I asked God to be present in the moment, with my friend and her family, and with me as I tried to meet a need.

My husband asks, "Why do we need six pounds of butter in the freezer?"  Two weeks ago on Friday, I knew the answer to that question.  When three aircrew members from our base were killed in an overseas plane crash, the only thing I knew to do was to start baking.  Within a couple of hours I had baked four dozen banana muffins and delivered them to the staff at my husband's office.  Within the week, I had also made two crock pots of chili, one pot of chicken and sausage stew, three recipes of the best salsa ever, a pan of brownies and baked 15 dozen cookies. Within a few days, many of us had gathered to remember and support one another.  There was enough food to feed the whole base.  It is as if our collective motto had become, "When in doubt, cook."

In Luke 10, we see Mary and Martha preparing for a visit from Jesus.  When he begins teaching, Mary sits down to listen, but the passage says that Martha becomes distracted by the preparations that had to be made, wanting her sister to come and help out.  Jesus' response holds up Mary's choice to be the student and Martha is left to finish the work alone.  But I think what people don't understand is that offering hospitality is Martha's way of honoring Jesus.  She, too, wanted to give him her best.  I certainly can relate.

It's not that I'm not praying while I'm baking.  On the contrary, each meal prepared is filled with prayers for healing, hope, comfort, and the presence of God's grace and peace.  Some people are most spiritually centered when they are quiet, alone, in meditation.  But others feel closer to God when they are busy, trying
to meet the needs of others with the things their actions provide.

So I wonder, what do you do when confronted with a crisis or unusual situation?

Baking muffins and cookies or making a pasta casserole may not change the world... or maybe they can.  With God, nothing is impossible.

Peace, Deb