I'm a recovering productivity superwoman. "Doing" used to be second-nature to me while "being?"—not so much. Because of that, vulnerability and intimacy used to be more difficult than they are now. Because of that, I couldn't let myself be seen, known, and loved because I was so busy doing something else that I didn't have enough time to cultivate relationships. I didn't have time to know myself better than a merely a producer of things (and we are much more than just the things we do everyday). I wasn't able to offer my whole being and presence to another, because my mind would trail off on what needed to be done next or tomorrow, or any other number of things.
Ultimately, living my life like that didn't make me happy, and that's because we're first called to be in relationship with the Lord and with each other (see those first two commandments), and not necessarily to busy ourselves with accomplishments.
To be in relationships requires time and an offering of yourself, and Mary gives us a good example in today's Gospel of what that looks like. It looks like sitting at Jesus' feet. It looks like putting tomorrow's worries out of your mind for just this moment to listen to Him. It looks like leaving the dishes to be done later. And it sounds a little easier than it might feel, doesn't it?
But here it is broken down: It looks like paying attention, seeing and recognizing Jesus in today's moments, and stopping. Stopping to be in that moment and to be in His presence. Can you do that with me, today?
If you're habitually "doing" instead of "being," pick one thing you're going to change about your schedule to make more time for "being." Maybe it's 10 minutes in the Adoration chapel once a week. Maybe it's listening to music after dinner instead of dishes. Maybe it's calling a friend and not also checking your phone. Make a small change today.
Annie Deddens is a writer and producer. She runs a prayer ministry with her husband, called Pray More Novenas. She has a heart for the sick & suffering, and she writes about living with greater faith (hope & love, too) in this imperfect world as a Catholic wife. You can find out more about her here.
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