31 Days of Brave: Introduction

Gentle Reader,

Welcome to the 2013 edition of the 31 Days Challenge, hosted by The Nester. The goal of the challenge is to write on one theme every day throughout the month of October. (Full disclosure: last year I pre- and post-dated entries. It will probably happen again). Anyone with a blog can participate. There are no limitations on what you can write about. (My 2012 series). This is a great way to get into the discipline of daily writing, even if you don’t always post that writing. It’s also a great way to discover new blogs, and therefore new friends, as you peruse the linky list.

This year, I am focusing on these words of Jesus:

 Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things. – Luke 10:41b (ESV)

Normally, we look at this brief episode of Martha and Mary from the standpoint of our need to set aside time to sit at the feet of Jesus. To learn from Him. To simply gaze into His face. What we don’t usually address is the extraordinary courage it took for Mary to sit at His feet. Women just didn’t do this. Women just weren’t invited to partake of a rabbi’s teaching. I see Jesus calling Martha to a brave action. It wasn’t wrong for her to make sure that everyone was comfortable and that they were fed. It wasn’t wrong for her to be hospitable. But I think Jesus is telling Martha, in that moment, to let it go. He’s telling her to step out of what she knows and into the uncertainty. Into where He is.

Jesus could just as easily be saying:

Marie, Marie, you are anxious and troubled about many things.

And I think He’s calling me to brave action.

Join me for the next 31 days. Let’s explore together what it means to be brave.

  For all of the posts in the 31 Days: Brave series, go here.