Lent, Day Thirty, Fourth Thursday of Lent

Lent, Day Thirty, Fourth Thursday of Lent
Boredom is a sentiment of disconnectedness. While we are busy with many things, we wonder if what we do makes any real difference. Life presents itself as a random and unconnected series of activities and events over which we have little or no control. To be bored, therefore, does not mean that we have nothing to do, but that we question the value of the things we are so busy doing. The great paradox of our time is that many of us are busy and bored at the same time... While we can hardly keep up with our many tasks and obligations, we are not so sure that it would make any difference if we did nothing at all.

Henri J.M. Nouwen
Making All Things New: An Invitation to the Spiritual Life, pg 60

Scripture:
³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ 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!”
⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42

PRAYER
Dearest Father, help me to recognize the boredom of a pointlessly busy life filled with disconnects from the grace and energy needed to fulfill your purpose. While Christ has given his life for my salvation, I seem to be lost on the track of an alternate universe that focuses on mindless activities and needless busy work. Let me not be distracted, as was Martha by her many self-imposed tasks, but let me know when it is time just to sit and listen to your voice. Amen.

LENTEN ACTION
Give up an extraneous task this Lent and concentrate instead on finding the "better part." Give up one of the ingrained cultural expectations that are external signs of accomplishment. Give up your sleep-walking in favor of a radical effort for God's cause.