Which verb dominates your active and thoughtful life? For some people the verb is to do. ”Doing” people focus their energies on what they have done and what others have done. These people are focused on tasks that are to be accomplished.
Some make lists of things to do. Others compare what they have done or are doing. Or you might compare what a company has done or is doing to another. Or even compare churches. Regardless, for “doing’’ people, life is about what they, or groups they are connected with, are doing.
For others, their dominant verb is to have. “Having” people focus their energies on obtaining things, whether it is status or objects or even having the upper hand. Some people call this “keeping up with the Joneses.” As if the Jones’ have a TV, then we need to have a TV. Or they might ask the question, “Why does she get to have this, but I don’t?” For “having” people, life is about making sure that you, or the people around you, have things.
And while there is nothing wrong with having or doing, letting those words dominate our lives forces us to be in a constant state of unrest. There is always something else to do. There is always something else to obtain.
What the Bible asks us to do, underneath our doing and having, or whatever other verb we come up with, is first to be.
Evelyn Underhill said that “Being is the essence of the Spiritual life, and without first being in Christ, all of our doing, wanting and having is selfish in nature.” She then goes on to say that when we focus on being, we are able to find our rest in God’s peace and grace and can then set our roots deep in faith.
I hope that worship is meaningful for you today, and that God’s presence is felt throughout our worship. Blessings, Sonny