Time Out For Women - Seattle, WA 2011 - S. Michael Wilcox

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    Last year, due to his wife's urgent illness situation, Michael was unable to speak to us.  However, because each presentation in recorded, we were able to see his previous talk that he had given in Pittsburgh.  You can see my post on his talk here.  Since that time, Michael's wife left this world and our hearts have all gone out to him during this time.

    He began his talk sharing an old Hindu legend.  I wish I could remember it all, but the basic story goes something like a man was out in the jungle and then was being chased by a tiger.  He found refuge in a tree, while the tiger was thrashing at him below and above him were mice gnawing at him.  Sounds like life a little bit right?  The old saying "Stuck between a rock and a hard place" came to my mind.

"In our cumbersome lives with gnawing mice and thrashing tigers it is needful that sometimes we learn."

    Continuing on he also recounted the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10: 38-42).  I was glad because this is a story that has been on my mind lately.  Which one do I represent? 

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 38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

    Michael pointed out that Martha said that her sister "left me to serve alone" and he took that to mean that Mary had been helping Martha, but stopped at some point to listen to Christ.  He thought that it would be more appropriate if Mary had a bowl in her hands while she was listening to represent that.  Then, he reflected on how Jesus answered and spoke to Martha.  He would have spoken gently to her, understanding the burden she felt and the worry she carried with her to make sure all these people would be fed.  Then saying that, "Mary hath chosen that good part".  The good part, not the better part.  Mary actively involved in a good work, but Martha simply chose the good part for her.  Maybe it's what she needed to hear right then in her life.  The Lord would not take that from her.  He couldn't and certainly wouldn't.  There will be times where it's more important to learn and grow than to focus on getting things done.

    We never stop learning.  Righteousness leads to Knowledge.  The more righteous steps we take the more knowledge we obtain.

Righteousness-------------------------->Knowledge

Greater Righteousness----------->Greater Knowledge


    Lastly, he shared an analogy of a compass.  The kind they use for naval guiding (like the one for drawing and has two feet.  We plant one foot in the center of the of gospel, the other is the searching foot.  People will place it anywhere because they think nothing is there.  Draw a circle and it encompasses all the truth and good of other religions.  "Never compare your best to their worst."