>What is your weapon of choice?

>Submitted by Robin Schmidt

I watched a friend's eight month old baby for a few hours last week.

Before I agreed to keep Austin I had made a list of things I was eager to do. I had just bought a carpet cleaner and wanted to clean the carpet on the back porch. While that was drying I hoped to plant four pots of decorative grasses in my front yard garden. And, of course, I had to make dinner for my family.

When Austin arrived I had to make a choice: enlist my daughter's help and try to accomplish some of my list or...just watch Austin.

I chose to watch. He crawled around my living room, and I removed clumps of cat/dog hair from his path. I took one toy out of his bag and we explored one toy together. We hung out on the floor, giggling and playing until he went to sleep. It was very relaxing, very peaceful. But if you look at my evening, I didn't do anything. I just watched Austin. I didn't really accomplish anything. Did I waste my time?

After all, there is a battle going on, a spiritual battle, and I need to participate. I need to take action. I must make a choice: What will I do to participate?

In the garden of Gethsemane Peter saw guards coming to arrest Jesus and he took action. For his weapon he chose a sword. But Jesus said, No.

No? No, don't take action? Don't participate?

Oh yes, we are meant to participate. Do you remember what Jesus did ask Peter and the other disciples to do?

"Sit here...keep watch with me." But they fell asleep.

"So, you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Keep watching and praying..." But they fell asleep. Jesus finished his agonizing time of prayer and went to face his arrest and death.

There was a battle going on. Peter and the disciples were invited to participate, to take action, to take up their weapons and fight, on their knees. Peter didn't see the big battle, the unseen. And as Doug pointed out Sunday Jesus had more than 12 legions - thousands - of angels, he didn't need Peter's sword.

My weapon of choice has been a "to do" list.

Jesus could have been talking to me when he said, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things..." But Lord, there is so much that has to be done.

Mary was listening to the Lord's word, seated at his feet. "Mary has chosen what is better." But Lord, what did she accomplish?

Sometimes going to battle looks like kneeling beside the bed instead of tackling a "to do" list, or wielding a sword, or...

What is your weapon of choice?