Martha was busy serving. Mary just sat with Jesus. Guess which one He said chose better.

Usefulness is the easiest place to hide. Serving is genuinely good, and it also keeps you moving, busy and unavailable for the harder thing, which is sitting still in someone’s presence with nothing to offer. The story does not scold the work. It puts attention above activity when both are on the table.

Notice whether you reach for a task when a room goes quiet or a conversation gets close. Try staying instead, just once this week, with the dishes left for ten more minutes. Whether it is God or a person in front of you, being present is not a lesser contribution than being helpful.