A few weeks ago, at dinner time, my community debated what was more important: “being” or “doing”.
It has almost become a cliché to say that we are human beings, not human doings. Of course, this idea is a good one. We sometimes become obsessed with what we do and what we achieve. The argument is that we should pay more attention to
who we are, our inner lives, and the state of our being.
However, we know what something is by what it does. That is how we interact with it and engage with it. We cannot entirely disregard actions from an integral sense of who or what we are.
Jesus says that our beings will be transformed if we abide in him. We shall become his disciples. That becomes our identity. And from
this, our actions become the actions of disciples. The fruit of our lives reflects our identity. Our doing comes from our being.
Once again, we are invited to trust the process. Take actions that help us abide in God, and trust that God will do the rest. He will strengthen our connection, transform our identities, and allow us to bear much fruit.
Reflect on the interplay
between your “being” and your “doing”. Are these consistent with one another? What does one say about the other?
Reflections by Sean van Staden SJ
