One day when I was in 5th grade my math teacher surprised my class by handing out a pop quiz. On the quiz were twenty-five works of multiplication and division problems that we were tasked to complete in five minutes. “You have five minutes to complete this quiz,” she said with a monotone quickness. “Write your name at the top of the paper, read your instructions, and when you complete the quiz turn it into me at my desk.”
As she looked at the clock and then told us to start, myself along with the rest of my class began a frenzied pace of solving our problems. You could hear our little voices counting numbers, the scratching of pencil on paper, and the pop of my neck as I twisted it left and right (yes, I was neck popping even at that age). There were times during the quiz that I would sneak a look at the clock to see how much time I had, and then try not to let my anxiety overtake me as I watched the hand move closer to the five minute mark.
As my classmates finished around me and took their papers to our teacher, I could feel my frustration starting to build. I’m not going to get this done, I thought. But lucky for me, I did complete my quiz with only seconds to spare, and I took my paper to my teacher. She looked at me with one eye brow cocked up (as she was known to do when she thought you did something wrong) and an uncomfortable pit quickly formed in my stomach. As I was walking back to my desk, I looked back at the next student handing in his paper, and she as well gave him the same look she gave me. I shook my head trying to convince myself that I was simply reading into things because of my nerves, but I soon found out that my suspicions were correct; I had done something wrong. As well as everyone else.
Our teacher then came to the front of the room with our quizzes that she fanned herself with casually. She looked at all of us with a slight grin on her face and then cleared her throat to speak. “Boys and girls, can anyone tell me why all of you failed this quiz?” There were gasps heard from the student body and I nervously ran my fingers through my hair. “Anyone have a clue?”
No one answered.
“Jeremy,” she said holding out the pile of papers in front of me.
Never in my life had I wished so hard, that was sitting in the back of the class instead of the front row.
“Do me a favor and read the instructions at the top of the page,” she said pointing at them.
My face flushed red as I read the instructions with a shaky voice. “Students, write your name at the top of this quiz. Answer five problems of your choosing. Then turn in your paper to me.”
After I finished reading the instructions, the classroom was completely silent. So quite in fact that a toilet could be heard being flushed down the hall in a bubbly distant drone. “This is a math class,” our teacher began as she walked to the trash can and dumped the quizzes into it. “But I wouldn’t be doing my job if I only taught you math. Sometimes, some life lessons have to be learned. And with this lesson you’re learning to follow instructions. You’re learning to listen and to not be in such a hurry that you miss out on the good stuff. Because boys and girls, you would agree that in this instance, the good stuff, is only having to answer five problems of your choosing in five minutes…rather than twenty five, correct?”
None of us could disagree with her.
“That’s good that you recognize that,” she said smiling again. “I know how competitive you all are and how everyone wants to finish things as fast as they can…but be careful that you don’t miss something important in your big hurry to be first. In this case you all missed important instruction that could have helped you to pass this quiz instead of fail it. You’ll find as you get older, that sometimes the important things we miss in our hurried lives, can cost us a lot more than a failed quiz. Someday you’ll understand what I mean.”
I’ll never forget this lesson that my teacher taught me…it was a foundation builder in my life. I wish I could say that from then on I followed her advice and wisdom word for word, but I haven’t. This life is a fast one. We live in a world that thrives on speed and getting things done quickly. It can truly be overwhelming and if we’re honest, the hectic pace of life can rob us of the peace that Jesus Christ offers. And that lack of peace can have a negative effect on us, can’t it? On our family too? Of course.
As Christians, it’s so important that we don’t allow ourselves to get swept away in the business of our culture and in the busyness of our own creation. By doing so we face the consequence of putting ourselves before God, and risk missing out on His most important moments that He may have for us. I’m reminded of a village Jesus and the disciples visited on their way to Jerusalem in Luke chapter ten. In this village they met a woman named Martha who invited them into her home.
“As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42 (NLT)
Who do you resemble more in this story, Martha or Mary?
I have to admit that too often I take after Martha. I can easily get in the habit of rushing around, “getting things done” while missing the blessings of Jesus all around me. What a disappointment that is to even think about. I know that it is hard and goes against the mentality of our world, but we have to start making the effort to slow down. Why? Because Jesus Himself said, “There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Brothers and sisters, trust me, you only want to be concerned about that ONE THING. But it seems that we can only find that ONE THING, when we slow down, rest, and experience the peace only found in Jesus. So I encourage you (and all of us), if even for a moment; put the phone down, let the chores wait, and leave social media to its own devices. Focus on what’s eternal. Let’s find a place at His feet and hear what He has to say. Especially now…He is so close. Listen….
“Seek the Lord while you can find Him. Call on Him now while He is near.”
