“How Much Is Enough?”—Action

Action or contemplation: must we choose?

Luke 4:16–19

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to readand was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”

Music Meditations

• The Summons—Robert Kolchis
• Make Me a Servant—Maranatha Music
• Gracious God—Jesse Manibusan
• Great Is Thy Faithfulness—Fernando Ortega

Opening Prayer

Taken from the opening prayer for 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time:

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, faith in your word is the way to wisdom, and to ponder your divine plan is to grow in the truth. Open our eyes to your deeds, our ears to the sound of your call, so that our every act may increase our sharing in the life you have offered us.

Companions for the Journey

The Active life is embodied life, everyday life—so ordinary we hardly notice it. We work in offices, farms, and homes. We act creatively on everything from gardening to raising children to writing a poem. We care by visiting a sick neighbor and by marching for peace. One way or another, most of us are involved in the active life day in and day out.

—Parker Palmer, The Active Life

In the gospels, Jesus is not portrayed as a wraith drifting through life; he had a mission to cure, to comfort, to feed, to nurture and to teach about God’s love. Jesus was very active, travelling the dusty roads of Israel, sleeping and eating when he could, followed by crowds and his often clueless disciples, and sometimes desperately seeking a place to be apart and re-connect with the ground of his being—his heavenly Father. (See the gospel passage in which he declares his mission to the world) So let’s start by saying that this commentary is not in any way denigrating human activity. Further, action is not just physical action, like digging ditches or doing dishes; action is thinking, laughing, crying, breathing, sleeping. Action is caring for others and ourselves. We act because that is how we are made. If we are not acting, we are not fully human.

Action can be instrumental or expressive. Instrumental action always is the means to a predetermined end, and is evaluated in terms of success or failure. (Palmer, p.23) It discourages risk-taking. Expressive action is not taken to achieve a goal outside of myself but to express a conviction, a leading, a truth that is within me. (Palmer, p 24). As full human beings, we engage in both types of action, although various cultures have promoted one way of acting over another. For example, our own culture generally favors instrumental action, often to the detriment of expressive action. (How often, in a conversation, are we adults asked what we do? How often do we look for approval or admiration because of the long hours we have put in or for staying up all night to solve a work or medical crisis?)

To be fair, expressive action is not going to put food on the table, so someone has to provide the instrumental action-somebody has to get off the dime and actually do something so that life can be sustained. (See the Martha and Mary story.)

That having been said, if we subscribe to an unwritten rule that tells us that the busier we are, the better we are, we are not doing ourselves or the world around us any good, and we become frenzied and anxious in the process. If we only measure our worth in terms of what visible accomplishments we have made, then we are at risk of ignoring much of what makes someone human and loveable.

An antidote to all of this excessive or misdirected activity (although not a cure—we are the products of our culture, we remember) would be to stop and contemplate the illusions we are operating under that fuel unnecessary, unproductive or harmful activity. What are some of our unconscious attitudes or behaviors which cause us to engage in unhealthy activity?

A persistent belief that our actions are a measure of our worth. A fear that if “you snooze, you lose”. Actions born out of pride in our accomplishments Engaging in busyness/activity as a way to avoid sadness or other negative feelings. Actions that are always reactive to what is going on around us, not self-initiated. Actions that are unconsciously habitual, never subject to re-evaluation. Actions that are retaliatory, or born out of anger, designed to elicit a negative reaction. Actions that are a way of getting attention, pity, approval. Actions that feed my own insecurities Actions that do not leave time for simply being, for feeling, for creating.

Being and doing are not antithetical, but the integration of our expressive and instrumental motivations and that of our spiritual natures requires something which writers as Richard Rohr, OFM, Thomas Merton, OCSO, and Parker Palmer call contemplation, and others call mindfulness. Contemplation/mindfulness is not some exotic form of navel-gazing and allows us to absent ourselves from real life and real relationships, but it enables us to strip off some of the illusions under which we have been operating. We love illusions because we have invested so much in them. Our society has many: violence or war can solve problems; both rich and poor are responsible for their fate; our country is better than others. We are pretty divided in our illusions about racism, misogyny, poverty, “those people”. And those opposing illusions fuel much of the dislocation and anger people are feeling. We love illusions because they bolster our world view, our prejudices, our natural tendencies. This is why disillusionment is so painful—when a friend lets us down, when we fail or the system fails, we are no longer able to go on as we were, and need to invent a new way of being and acting in the world. This is not easy, nor is it quick. So instead of waiting for Armageddon, let’s start small and incrementally, so that our actions are more thought-out. Here are some antidotes to overaction or reflexive action: (Pick one, and start there—be reasonable.)

Mindful walking, being aware of one’s own breathing and aware of the surroundings Asking frequently: “Why am I doing this??” Personal meditations which seek the inner vision of love that we hope motivates our actions how am I loved by God? (Psalm 139) how am I loved by others in my life? How do I want to love ______? Monitoring of my motivations to ensure that my actions are not flowing from a negative energy source Believing the positive messages about myself that I get from God and from those around me Being aware of How I speak to myself/ my inner dialogues Going over the same irritations over and over again Thinking in absolutes The amount of time I use “should” about myself and others Internalizing conflicts “Keeping the lid on” so tightly that I am in danger of exploding (very messy and very ugly) Looking for examples in Jesus’ life where he was confronted with situations I am facing and seeing his response And saving the very best for last: Prayer, speaking to Jesus about an action I am contemplating or one I engaged in that I wish I had not. Resting in Jesus’ love and understanding and that of his Father

Living the Good News

Be sure to read the commentary on the active life in “Companions for the Journey” (above) before considering the reflection questions and/or meditations below.

What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion?

Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:

Reflection Questions

• How hard is it to remember that God loves me, not for what I do/accomplish, but simply because I am?
  Do I use my good behavior or good deeds to earn God’s love and approval?
  How often do I try to elicit God’s attention though frantic activity?
• Is there something I love to do that I am ignoring because of pressing tasks or obligations?
• Am I living someone else’s desire of happiness and success?
• Have I ever been aware of being pulled into a story or a drama that is not of my making, but left me feeling compelled to DO something?
• What are the “shoulds” in my life?
• Do I ever stop in the middle of an activity and ask myself:
  Why am I doing this?
  Am I enjoying this?
  What does this activity tell me or others about my priorities?
• How does my culture view activity vs. inactivity?
  Is inactivity laziness, as our culture sometime surmises?
  If not, what is activity?
  Is it useful?
  Does it have to be useful?
• How many of my actions are habitual, born out of the need to keep busy or to look busy?
  How many of my actions are reactive:
  
  responding to my own compulsions, responding to someone else’s behavior, responding to a situation I have encountered?
  Are any of my actions (even speech) defensive or retaliatory?
• How many of my actions are generated by my own self-knowledge and my relationship with Jesus?
  Do I ever ask what Jesus would do if he were here?
• Which fears of mine inhibit my action?
  Which is the most important for me to address?
  Can I address my fear with compassion instead of judgement?
• Is a life without fear my goal?
  If not, what do I do about fear?
• Parker Palmer, in The Active Life, suggests that the function of contemplation is to penetrate illusion and to help us touch reality.
  What, then, is disillusionment, and is it a bad thing?
  Is contemplation only for mystics, anchorites, or cloistered religious?
• Thomas Merton tells us that contemplation is the “sudden gift of awareness, an awakening to the Real within all that is real.”
  It seems to require a sort of apartness, a so that we can ask the right questions and hear the right answers
  When have I ever engaged in contemplation—either intentionally or accidentally?
  Is solitude different from loneliness?
• What are the down sides of contemplation?
  Can we live fully in the world choosing contemplation rather than action?
  How do we balance the two?
  Is the balance exactly even for most people?

Meditations

A Meditation in the Ignatian Style/Imagination:

Read Luke 10:38-42 . Let’s look at this story.

Imagine Martha, the doer, bustling about and trying to make sure that their guest has everything that he needs in the way of hospitality. Do you think she feels ignored by Jesus as simply a household servant? Is she irritated that neither Jesus nor her sister seem to appreciate her efforts? Do you think she expects that her sister would help with the chores, or do you think she likes to be the heroine of this little drama?

Then let’s look at Mary. Why do you think she is so attentive to what Jesus has to say? Is she ignoring her sister in just in this instance, or is this a family pattern? Would ignoring Jesus ‘ words in favor of activity be considered rude? If she does not listen to Jesus’ teachings in this instance, who would? Is this a form of hospitality as well? What could she do differently?

With which character do you most identify?

What specifically, was Martha’s mistake?

What would have happened if Martha had done nothing?

What would have happened if Mary joined in the serving duties?
Do you think Mary could have done something to help?

What, exactly, was Jesus saying to Martha?

What are the pitfalls of a life of action without listening and learning?

What are the pitfalls of a life of listening and learning without action?

A Meditation in the Dominican Style/Asking Questions:

In examining the rewards and risks of action, whether measured and thought out or excessive and impulsive, there might be a tendency to assume that inaction would be the wisest and safest way to live one’s life. The lures of inaction stem from many sources:

1. A constitutional inability to make a decision because it closes out other options. This can create an inadvertent decision because no decision is in itself a decision to do nothing. This can create roadblocks for others and it can leave us feeling left behind as well. Am I too quick or too reluctant to make a decision and to act on that decision?

2. Intimidation when analyzing the scope of the undertaking, which causes a paralysis of sorts. But what is the alternative? Could I possibly break the task into smaller segments? Could I elicit help? Has this solution ever occurred to me?

3. Fear of personal failure, or losing face. We sometimes forget that in scientific investigations, failure s how we learn what does not work and learn what behavior not to repeat. Even successful and powerful people have failures. Have I ever failed at anything? What did I learn about myself or about life?

4. Fear of making waves, of disturbing the status quo, which can cause more problems down the line because issues ignored and tasks left undone only get bigger and more complex and may cause way more dislocation and anger if ignored or deferred too long. Have I ever been slow to act, even though it was the right thing to do, because there might be some unpleasantness? Am I conflict averse?

5. A fear of disappointing others, even God, forgetting that people like Mother Teresa said; “We are not called to be successful, we are called to be faithful”. ( or words to that effect). Have I ever disappointed anyone through an impulsive action? What happened? Do I believe god loves me and other love me even if I make mistakes?

Poetic Reflection:

The philosopher Chuang Tsu , in the fourth century BBCE has this to say about the life of action when taken too far (Translation by Thomas Merton). Do you agree with any of these critiques? Is the poem too cynical?:

“Active Life”

If an expert does not have some problem to vex him, he is unhappy!

If a philosopher’s teaching is never attacked, she pines away!

If critics have noon eon whom to exercise their spite, they are unhappy!

All such people are prisoners of the world of objects.

He who wants followers, seeks political powers.

She who wants reputation, holds an office.

The strong man looks for weights to lift.

The brave woman looks for an emergency in which she can show bravery.

The swordsman wants a battle in which he can swing his sword.

People past their prime prefer a dignified retirement, in which they can seem profound.

People experienced in law seek difficult cases to extend the application of laws.

Liturgists and musicians like festivals in which they can parade their ceremonious talents.

The benevolent, the dutiful, are always looking for chances to display virtue.

Where would the gardener be, if there were no more weeds?

What would become of business if there were not a market of fools?

Where would the masses be if there were no pretext of jamming together and making noise?

What would become of labor if there were no superfluous objects to be made?

Produce! Get results? Make money! Make friends! Make changes!

Or you will die of despair!

Poetic Reflection:

This poem, which is said to have hung in Mother Teresa’s office, looks at action in a more positive sense:

“Do it anyway”

People are often unreasonable and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you.

Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

Closing Prayer

Jesus, Did you ever feel the fierce force the push the pull of days and nights that were far too full of people and programs you thought willed by one whose way must be fulfilled? When at the end of a difficult day with barely time to pause and pray before the crowds began to press upon you did you also bless each God-given opportunity? If so, Jesus, remember me.

—“Winter”, Sister Miriam Therese, Womanword 126-127

Further gospel reflections:

Mark, Chapters 1-3 ( talk about busy!)

Matthew 6:25-34 (on anxiety)

Luke 9:28b-36 ( Peter’s response to the transfiguration was to DO something)

Further Reading:

Merton, Thomas, New Seeds of Contemplation

Merton, Thomas, Contemplation in a World of Action

Palmer, Parker, The Active Life

Rohr, Richard, Immortal Diamond

Simsic, Wayne, Ed., Thomas Merton/An Invitation to the Contemplative LIfe