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Distracted?

3.4.2022
|
Daily Grace

In preparing for Lent this year, I’m asking myself what I’m allowing to distract me.

In the story of Mary, Martha and Lazarus in John 11, Martha sends for Jesus with a heartbreaking message: “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” I’m sure at that moment, Martha was undistracted. Her brother was sick, and she wanted Jesus to come and save him.

What Jesus – and my therapist – don’t promise is that noticing will be free of pain. Sometimes when I rid myself of distractions, I’m forced to encounter circumstances or truths that I don’t want to deal with.

In our world today, even a brief look around can be heartbreaking. The news seems to constantly bring tidings of sorrow, death, and violence. But what is the alternative? I don’t want to fail to notice the pain around me. I want to be present to those who are sick and needy. I want to be present to my own suffering, the ways that I need to be raised from the dead. I don’t want to stop sending messages to Jesus, asking him to come.

This message is excerpted from “Just notice: Walking into Lent with Martha” by Cara Strickland in the March 2017 Gather magazine.


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Women of the ELCA
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On Sunday, January 29th, 524 years ago Katharina von Bora Luther was born. Today’s blogger shares why Women of the ELCA has good reason to make a fuss about Katie. Honor a bold woman of faith in your life by making to gift to Katie’s Fund. womenoftheelca.org/blog/post/…

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