“Be” – Living in the Now (Part 2)

One summer, when our daughter was a toddler, our family spent a beautiful day on an isolated beach in the Florida panhandle.  We played in the sand, walked along the water’s edge as the gentle waves lapped at our ankles, and enjoyed a picnic while a noisy flock of seagulls waited nearby for the leftovers.  After lunch, as I rested with my little girl in the shade of the beach umbrella, I turned to see my husband gazing at us with tears in his eyes.   Later, he explained his feelings by saying “his planets had lined up”.  In other words, at that precise moment, he had no worries, stress had faded away, life was just as it should be, those he loved were safe, and the future was bright and full of promise.  For just a time, he was able to simply “be”.  He harkens back to that day frequently when the pressures of his busy schedule threaten to steal his peace of mind.

Someone once described the difference between “human beings” and “human doings”, as the calling by God to be who we were created to be and not what we were created to do.  Although I agree with the logic beyond such a statement, I have come to the conclusion that sometimes simply being is an action we must deliberately do. 

The difficulty for me arises as I attempt to discern the difference between the two.  During the course of any day, I can be many things.  In the past two hours, I have been wife, mother, bookkeeper, daughter-in-law, sister, maid, cook, and writer – just a few of the many roles I play, with particular responsibilities, actions, and abilities associated with each.

A college professor once told me I could make sense of any situation by applying the “5WH” method of reasoning: who, what, when, where, why, how.   It is difficult to answer the questions of who and what without using a title or role description, yet as I consider the word “be”, I am convinced God is not asking me to take on another role or job.  It is an instruction to maintain a particular state of mind; not an action, but a condition.  A moment such as my husband experienced on that sandy Florida beach.

The final question of how is the most challenging of the 5WH method of reasoning.  Thankfully, scripture gives a clear and concise answer. 

Psalm 46:10 – Be still and know that I am God.

Based on that one verse alone, the answer becomes apparent, doesn’t it?  So, for today, I will simply be.