Time to Get to Work

13/1/2021

A Reflection on the Psalm for January 17th, 2021:
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm 40

R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.

R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.

R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Then I said, “Here I am; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord.

R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

Today, instead of finally putting pen to paper (or keyboard to word document) to write, I cleaned. I deep cleaned in fact. I moved my stove to sweep and mop. I deep cleaned my fridge (including taking out all of the shelves and drawers to hand wash them). I did dishes. I washed laundry. I ran to the store to grab some non-urgent meds because I had a moment. The looming deadline seemed to engage my fight or flight instinct, and I clearly chose flight. All of that spurred because I sat at my desk and tried to write. The incredible power of a deadline, particularly one I’ve put off again and again.

This reading from the Psalms says, “I delight to do your will, O my God”, a sentiment I really do feel in my heart of hearts. There is no greater thrill or source of joy than having the conviction I am doing what God wants me to do — engaging in His mission and serving His Kingdom. In my work, I have daily opportunities to rejoice in doing’s God’s will and seeing what incredible things He crafts using my meagre efforts and offerings. Not to mention the daily grace poured over me through my blessed vocation as a wife and a mother — many of those tasks are menial (cooking, cleaning, changing diapers, etc.), but I delight in how good it is for my heart and soul to help raise these children entrusted to my care; I delight in how good it is for my heart and soul to share my life with a man whose goal is to help me get to Heaven, just as my goal is the same for him. It is all incredibly humbling and fills my heart with such unimaginable joy.

But there I was today, avoiding what I knew was my mission for today in favour of the banal. That’s not that tidying up can’t be missional too — often laborious work is the firm foundation on which we can build up the Kingdom. But today, I chose to work too long and too hard and denied God His will for my day.

How many times have I chosen to do a good instead of the good? More times than I can count. This Psalm is a good reminder that the Lord is the master not only of my life, but of the hours of my day. I am called to repent of my desire to control and instead offer my whole self — time, will, talents, plans — to God to use as He will. I am called to seek His will and rejoice in whatever task He sets before me. My God is not a God of the “important” or even the “urgent”, but rather the God who has sent me on mission.

Time to get to work.

When I see what is written of me in the scroll of the book, what will it say? Will it say that I was a person with a hunger for distracted busyness or a person who hungers for the will of my God?

Stephanie Potter

8 Comments

Lindsay Elford

13/1/2021 10:22:01 am

Stephanie, I really appreciate the subtlety you've named here, of A good vs. THE good. I often wrestle with this. THE good is often a harder thing...but a much more fulfilling thing in the end! Thanks be to God, for leading us down the path of all the good things.

Stephanie Potter

13/1/2021 06:03:34 pm

It takes real discernment to parse the subtle differences between a good and the good. I’m glad the Lord accused my heart today.

Liz

13/1/2021 05:09:56 pm

Thank you for sharing Stephanie. I often felt the same way, replacing the mission with things that are banal only to succumb to the power of the deadline!
Yet, in the end, the Lord leads us and we’ve come up with something we wouldn’t have thought of if it were just up to us.

13/1/2021 06:04:45 pm

I’m glad that by declaring my weakness this reflection resonated. God is good at reminding us of the mission if we’re willing to listen listen listen!

Lisa Matheson

16/1/2021 07:39:44 am

Loved this reflection Stephanie. This is what I would call a little bit of spiritual broccoli. I hadn’t thought about “a good” versus “the good” before. Lots to ponder. Thank you!!

16/1/2021 07:59:47 am

I can’t remember where I first heard that idea of “a good” vs “the good”, but I have found it to be a valuable reminder that I am called to seek the Lord’s will in all things first. There are so many competing goods (is my vocation marriage, single life, religious life... do I apply for a new job or stay at my current one... do I spend 6 hours cleaning my kitchen or 1 hours writing my ora reflection), and being able to sit down and ask the Lord what “the” good is helps cut through the noise.

Lori

16/1/2021 08:20:46 am

“the Lord is the master... of the hours of my day.” Bam! This is a line I will repeat over and over. I do a darn good job of compartmentalizing the time I offer to God. But I am meant to orient toward Him minute by minute. All time is His. Thank you, Steph, for facilitating the beautiful grace I just received through your words!

16/1/2021 09:23:42 am

I’m so glad this spoke to a need in your heart. This is an area of weakness for me! Giving God my everything, including what I see as small, is an important part of living a life fully integrated into His will.