The Steward Works on Assignment

Although purpose and meaning are important in a satisfying life, the word, assignment, has become a more useful term because it is specific in time and space.  The over-arching purpose and meaning of my life as a Steward, finds its expression in a given assignment within a time frame.  This was highlighted in the readings this morning from Mark 13:32-37 and Mark 14:3-10.

"No one knows about the day or the hour..only the Father.  Be on guard!  Be Alert!.  It is like a man who goes away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task and tells the one at the door to keep watch...You do not know when the owner of the house will come back...What I say to you, I say to everyone:  Watch"

"She has done a beautiful thing to me.  The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want.  But you will not always have me.  (For I am going away...John 14).  She did what she could.  She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial."

I struggle at times with guilt about all that I can no longer tend to  - all people related.  The Blessing House building project is task oriented, meaning I have to leave many people in the dust - all who come under my frame of meaning and purpose.  I am convinced that the assignment, to build the house on Lake Wassermann, is something to be done for the Lord as perfume poured out.  I have pondered if this is the best use of my time and resources since it demands my all to some neglect of "the poor, the ministry, the church, friends and family".  

I also wonder, what it might have to do with the "unknown hour when the Master returns".  Does the perfume I pour out have anything to do with preparing for the Master's return?  Some day I hope to hear the Lord say to me, as He did to Mary, "She has done a beautiful thing to me."  (Mk 14:6)