The Power of Just Being
Written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ”
I love the following quote by Eckhart Tolle: “In today’s rush, we all think too much-seek too much-want too much-and forget about the joy of just being.” The quote exemplifies much of our modern lives. Our society has taught us to be good at thinking, seeking, and wanting. Our society has left us unable to experience “the joy of just being.” Thinking, seeking, and wanting are all verbs, action words. Just being has a lot less action!
Society has taught us that we must earn our value. We must be smart enough, clever enough, and wanting enough to desire society's idea of riches. Simply being doesn’t feed consumerism, which is the meaning of society's successful life. But, God forbid, you lose the ability to earn and produce. In our society, the weak often make less and therefore have little meaning or value. Like the Middle Schoolboy who isn’t athletic and thus is ignored, and treated as invisible, so are those who are unable to keep producing enough. Whatever enough is!
We mistreat our elderly and those with special needs by not investing in the infrastructure to care for their needs. This group is without worth because the only priority is consumer success. The same is true in how we respond to the homeless, the unemployed, and those who do not express their worth materially. But God offers us another way.
God offers us a sense of worthiness based on being made in the image of God. We are not judged by how much we can produce and consume, but simply for being one of God’s children. Today, pray for God to give you the peace and joy that comes with receiving your worth from a merciful and loving God, rather than the god of consumerism. The god of consumerism will always make you feel like you never have enough and are never enough as a person. With our Triune God, you are enough because God loves you. It is your choice which deity you will pledge your allegiance to. Choose wisely!
