Our Martha And Mary Days

With a cup of coffee in hand, I launched my morning. Looking down at my to-do list, I noticed that my day would be a "Martha and Mary" day, like most days. My schedule would consist of activity and rest, or meditation. Maharishi emphasized that the two aspects were an important balance in our daily lives.. We couldn’t do just one or the other.

Photo from Martha Stewart of a glass bowl, with a sponge, kitchen towel and a lemon cut in two for cleaning. — martha stewart photo

The Bible Story Of Martha And Mary

There is a story referenced in the Bible in the Gospel of Luke 10:38-42:

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’

’Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’”

Growing up, my family had a 10-volume set of children's books printed in the mid-1950s – The Bible Story by Arthur Maxwell. I don't know how they got them. Perhaps someone came to the house as a door-to-door salesman.

When I was young, I loved to read and like most children, I could read the same thing over and over again. This set of books was no exception. I clearly remember the story of Martha and Mary.

Semiradsky, artist, painting of Jesus talking to Mary in the garden. — Semiradsky, artist

Martha Or Mary – Who Was Right?

The story stuck with me, because I always felt sorry for Martha. The story painted her in a somewhat negative light. It didn't seem very fair. It's not always so clear which one is “right.”

Because who knows? Maybe there were extenuating circumstances – maybe Mary had a reputation of not doing her fair share of work around there. If we all sat around in constant meditation, others could get upset about tasks left undone, especially meals missed.

It's all about everything in the right timing and balance, isn't it?

My final analysis was that Martha probably needed to relax a bit and get in touch with her own deeper meditations and Mary probably needed to pull her full weight a bit more.

Perhaps this parable was a gentle reminder that, in the chaos of this world, we need to remember to keep balance in our own daily lives.

Johann Vermeer, Artist, depicting Jesus talking with Mary and Martha is at his side with a loaf of bread in a basket. — Johann Vermeer, Artist

Martha And Mary In Balance

Joanne Weaver wrote a book with this very idea in mind, entitled: Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. She is quoted here:

“While the world applauds achievement, God desires companionship.
The world clamors, ‘Do more! Be all that you can be!’
But our Father whispers, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’”

We want the qualities of both Martha and Mary, because both aspects are needed and desired. In fact, when these two energies are in balance, each one contributes to the loving qualities of caring. The trick is that neither should overpower the other.

Keeping everything in balance, however, can be quite the juggling act. Distraction is at an all-time high in our modern lives. Just look at all of us bent over our phones.

With unrelenting daily pressures to complete outer tasks – it's easy to become overwhelmed and distracted by all our "Martha" obligations.

Photo of a rock in shape of triangle, with a flat rock balanced at the tip and two rocks at each side of the flat rock, in perfect balance like a scale.

Nurture Your Inner Martha and Mary

Poor Martha, being called-out like that. I hope she got over it, finished what she was doing, and then relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the evening.

What about you? Do you sometimes find you are more Martha or more Mary?

Hearts in the Wind