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{"id":42518,"date":"2018-05-12T05:28:54","date_gmt":"2018-05-12T09:28:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionprof\/?p=42518"},"modified":"2018-05-11T22:32:04","modified_gmt":"2018-05-12T02:32:04","slug":"one-thing-needful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionprof\/2018\/05\/one-thing-needful.html","title":{"rendered":"One Thing Needful"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

This little-known poem is by Bram Stoker<\/a>, better known as the author of Dracula<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The one thing needful<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Martha\u2019s house the weary Master lay,
\nSpent with His faring through the burning day.
\nThe busy hostess bustled through the room
\nOn household cares intent, and at His feet
\nThe gentle Mary took her wonted seat.
\nSoft came His words in music through the gloom.<\/p>\n

Cumbered about much serving Martha wrought
\nHer sister listening as the Master taught
\nTill something fretful an appeal she made:
\n\u201cDoth it not matter that on me doth fall
\nThe burden ; Mary helpeth not at all?
\nMaster, command her that she give me aid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, Martha, Martha! thou art full of care,
\nAnd many things thy needless trouble share.\u201d
\nThus with the love that chides the Master spake:
\n\u201cOne thing alone is needful. That good part
\nHath Mary chosen from her loving heart;
\nAnd that part from her shall I never take.\u201d<\/p>\n

One thing alone we lack. Our souls, indeed,
\nHave fiercer hunger than the body\u2019s need.
\nAh, happy they that look in loving eyes.
\nThe harsh world round them fades. The Master\u2019s Voice
\nIn sweetest music bids their souls rejoice
\nAnd wakes an echo there that never dies.<\/p>\n

I listened to the novel Dracula as an audiobook<\/a> not long ago, which was my first time \u201creading\u201d the book. I was struck by the religious worldview of the work, which at once attributes significant power to God and leaves room for strange malevolent creatures to wreak havoc on human beings. Having taken the usual entry point to acquaint myself with Stoker\u2019s work, it was a pleasant surprise to then happen across his retelling of a famous story from the Gospel of Luke. Apparently it was his first poem to be published. What do you think of it?<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"