March 18 – Stop, Look, & Listen

March 18 – Stop, Look, & Listen

Anchor: Signposts for Renewal

Frame: How can prayer and contemplation be a signpost directing us to home, to life, to renewal?

Thread: Signs Added Each Week  (I don’t know where I am, but I know I’m not lost.)

Luke 10:38-42
 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ But Jesus answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’

                Children are taught to “stop, look, & listen” whenever they cross the street. It is also the instruction given when approaching an unregulated railroad crossing (one without crossing arms or bells).  It’s good advice: be sure it is safe to proceed, double sure.  For those of us on a spiritual journey, it is even better advice. We are not making sure that it is safe to cross, we are being sure that we are ready to encounter the Divine. Such is Mary’s example. She stopped what she was doing. She saw something in Jesus. She listened to what he was saying.

                Martha, on the other hand, was overwhelmed with her busy-ness. Yes, she was performing the tasks of hospitality, performing the role her society assigned to her, and presumably to Mary as well. But in her hectic state, she did not stop, she did not see Jesus for anything but an honored male visitor, and instead of listening she talked. Much commentary of recent years has defended Martha, and truth be told in Jesus’ day Mary’s behavior would have been disgraceful and scandalous. Nonetheless Jesus says that Mary has made the better choice. She stopped, looked and listened.

                So, in the context of the Studio, how do we stop, look and listen? Our series and the order of Diana Butler Bass’ book do not sync, but her chapter on contemplation reminds us that what we are calling “Stop, Look & Listen” is really prayer. This week’s studio is about experiencing prayer.

I do not have an order but I have thought about a number of ways to experience contemplation in the context of our worship:

·         sound a gong at regular intervals, signaling one minute of silent reflection (can just interrupt whatever we are doing, even singing)

·         we need some exploration of “monkey mind,” the interior chatter that makes silence difficult

·         highlight our prayer candles – making them more visible, maybe including that in our joys & concerns time

·         have a prayer station where a few people are engaged in prayer throughout the service, and invite others to join them for a few minutes or the whole time as they feel called

·         A video featuring “Listen to the Rain” by Evanescence as a call to stop and listen

·         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7M3uFaJ8K4 This is an annoying video that drums in the rule for crossing the street

·         bringing Mary and Martha’s story to life

We may also look for some personal stories of the ways that people have encountered God when they did indeed stop, look, and listen; to hear in their words why (as Jesus said) Mary chose the better part.