I think sometimes about handicaps. I wonder what it would be like to be blind or deaf or missing a limb. I think of how different life would be, how many ways my life would change. I wonder now about paralysis and total unresponsiveness. You know, those people who some call “vegetables.” Not the ones in comas, but those who are awake and still unable to respond, whose speech is gone, whose mobility is gone, whose eye contact is minimal, and who cannot do anything. Isn’t being greater than doing? I’ve always liked to think that who I am is more important than what I do. What if who I am is all I have?

One aspect of friendship, and of social life in general, is doing things together. Whether that consists of attending an event, playing a game, or sitting around the dinner table and chatting, “doing” is vital to any relationship. Some young married couples wonder what will happen when they run out of things to do together. Will they get bored with each other? Will they drift apart because their common interests have been exhausted, played out to their full extent? Or they imagine each other’s love is built on what they can do for each other. Will he still love me when I’m old and grey, she wonders. Will she stick around when I can’t buy her all the nicest things, he worries.

Then I imagine a husband and wife in their late 80’s, sitting on their front porch swing, enjoying the cool evening. They don’t have to do anything. In fact, their age prevents them from doing many of the enjoyable activities they used to busy themselves with. But now their love goes beyond doing and touches into the depths of being. Being together is more important than doing anything together.

I believe the greatest act of worship is to be with God. Not to recite a prayer. Not to sing a hymn. Not to say a word at all. Not to perform good deeds. Not even to love your neighbor. To be with God is the greater choice because all other avenues leave open the option for hypocrisy; they can be performed without sincerity. But being before God leaves no room for false intentions. To be is greater than to do.

Written at 6:16 pm         ||         Filed under: General, Learnings
7 Comments

7 Responses to “On the Surpassing Value of Being”

1. heidi Says:
   January 23rd, 2005 at 11:48 pm

   (never lose this entry, its golden!)

2. James Says:
   January 24th, 2005 at 6:12 am

   It is now in the learnings section for easy reference in the future.

3. Jen Says:
   January 24th, 2005 at 9:30 pm

   Good stuff James, good stuff.

   I want to have an autographed copy of your first book, mind you.

4. Martha Says:
   January 27th, 2005 at 2:05 am

   Ah, refreshing.

5. Heather Says:
   January 27th, 2005 at 9:34 pm

   Thanks for that James!

6. Jonathan Wold Says:
   January 29th, 2005 at 1:52 am

   Wow.. very well said James :). Thanks!

7. sar Says:
   January 29th, 2005 at 1:12 pm

   you put it.

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