Doing · May 7, 07:46 AM
I’ve often thought of the gladiator in the arena. He fights for his life with passion, holding on to the only thing he has during that space in time. He knows nothing of the bystanders cheering him on or booing him down. He only knows the fight for survival. The attempt to do.
Though indeed, that valiant warrior may die in the ring, he will have lived in it as well. You see, all the bystanders, the critics, the skeptics, the fans, they watch and talk, but they do not do. Those poor men on the side lines will never know what it is to truly live as that man lived. They will only think that they are above such things, while in reality they are below them. To live, to do ,is what we are called to.
Now I put the question to you. Have you done?
I had an experience about 6 months ago, more or less, in which there was a group of people sitting around one man playing a guitar. It was a small club near Miami Beach, and there is an outside patio area where this was happening. My dad was with me and asked me if I wanted to get my guitar out of the car and play with the man. I said not really, but something inside me did want to play. It didn’t matter at all whether I played well or played badly, played one of my songs or one of his, it just mattered that I did. I ordered a double-shot of Bacardi 151, gulped it down and procceeded to my car. I brought back my guitar and asked the man if I could play with him, and he invited me to sit down. We ended up playing a song or two, nothing special, but I just knew that I had to do and I’m glad that I did. In truth, it was pretty significant for me. Once we had begun playing, the whole group that had been listening and talking while the man played his guitar began to sing with us as we played. In a sort of feverish delight, we played and sang the same spanish song for 5 or 10 minutes.
I did and I’m glad, I surrendered to the moment and became free.
What’s your story? What have you done?
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good post John! It reminds me of a quote that I heard once attributed to Teddy Roosevelt:
“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” (Teddy Roosevelt)
— Joseph · May 7, 08:13 AM · #
i feel the pain of the gladiator,patrick henry said live free or die. i often feel i’m fighting for my real life,when you spend yourself for soemthing that is greater than yourself death becomes beautiful,not painless,but beautiful.
— kevin · May 7, 01:29 PM · #
Death can be considered beautiful indeed Kevin. Often I’ve seen death as more of an awakening than anything else. I can’t remember where I heard this, but somewhere I read that this life is like a dream compared with eternal life. If you consider how small and insignificant actual dreams in this life are compared to the entire 70 or so years, then it makes eternal life seem much larger.
— Johnthemusician · May 7, 10:15 PM · #
great thoughts, John! After I read the post and comments, I found myself in an ironic situation: I was debating whether I should reply or not. Then I realized this post is about doing and not spectating! I was willing to critique the posts; but, when it came down to it, I was not willing to actually do any writing myself. Our country is full of Roman spectators, watching real men live and die, yet we only offer our opinions and criticisms. I know I would rather do and die than watch and never know what it was like to live. Bless you, John, in all your doings.
— Patrick · May 8, 03:28 PM · #
And you Patrick! Excellent post, I’m so glad you shared. =O)
— Johnthemusician · May 8, 06:33 PM · #
Hey John, good post. I have experienced something similar in my own life. Right after I was given a very bleak diagnoses of stage 4 cancer, I heard a song that says something like, “When given the chance to dance or sit it out, I hope you’ll dance!” After crying, I decided I wanted to live and made the choice to live life to its fullest and enjoy the time I do have with my family and friends…I have never regretted it. Life is good!
Keep up the good work!
Deb
— Debbie Holbrook · May 8, 08:34 PM · #
And yet I’ve only seen you dance with dad once! Briefly!!! You better start dancing more often. lol. =OP Love yah mom.
— Johnthemusician · May 10, 01:00 AM · #
John asked me to comment here, and I am more than happy to share my perspective, as long as it is welcome.
These are my thoughts on the matter.
At a specific point in my life, when I was about 15 or so, I became aware of a choice. Up to that point, I hadn’t considered any other way of doing things.
Growing up in my family, I had no shortage of people engaged in life whom I could observe, and learn from. It wasn’t until I was about 15 or so that I realized I was holding myself back from becoming engaged in life myself. That I could make a choice to lead the kind of lives that I saw around me.
It wasn’t untill I was 16 or so that I realized that I SHOULD “do” rather than limit myself to observation.
I may be interpreting this wrongly, but it seems like you hold some contempt for the Audience. I want to point out that not all Observers are Critics, and that, at least I feel, it is difficult for one to Do the right thing, without carefuly observing his surroundings.
There is great benefit to being at peace with the constant flow of life. There is also great benefit to being able to take youself out of that flow, to study it. If you are always in the flow of life, it is difficult to know where you are, and there are times in my life when I have needed nothing more than to know who, and where, I was, in order to proceed.
And there were times in my life when I needed nothing more than to “do”. Had I not taken those opportunities to “do” I would always have regretted it.
The transition from observing to acting can be a very dificult one, because in observing you become aware that by acting you can make mistakes with terrible consequences.
From that moment, when I realized there was a choice, and that it was important to be involved in life, I have tried to “do” at every opportunity. In doing so, I have made many mistakes, and been greatly hurt, but I have also lived a much fuller life, and learned much much more about life than I otherwise could have. And there were pleanty of positive benefits to my actions as well, such as my friendship with you. It has been a very grounding and guiding realationship for me throughout the years. It has also been very enjoyable! Thank you!
— Chris McCormick · May 11, 02:38 AM · #
hey Chris! Good to hear from you…
Yes, I can definitely see you as a watcher/observer…it is in the eyes. I think you are right about the contempt for the audience…it probably reflects where John is at right now and the priorities that God is calling him to (by the way, I just took him to the airport—so it might be a couple of days before he checks in).
I am actually in a very different place right now. I was talking about this with my friend Jamie in Costa Rica. I have been a doer…an activist most of my adult life (my dad always said, “DO SOMETHING even if it is wrong!”).
But now, I am at a point of reflection…review and re-thinking more than doing. It seems to me a little more like Mary seated at the feet of Jesus than Martha ‘doing’ in the kitchen. Perhaps another season of ‘doing’ will come along for me. For now, I am content to ‘sit’ in his presence.
Good to hear from you!
— Joseph · May 11, 09:03 AM · #
Well, you’re absolutely right Chris, I guess in a lot of ways I am making generalizations about the critics of the world. I think that most of us are critics at certain times. I guess I do have contempt for the critics, but as you say, not everyone is a critic. What my dad mentioned above though was a very key element to life. In fact when I say “Do” I don’t mean always be active, or “doing” something externally. It seems to me that the most important sort of doing that can be done, is to sit with God. Sitting is something that you “do” but it’s a thing of relaxation, or reflecting. In the same way, Jesus often spent time alone with God. Durring that time he wasn’t doing any miracles or teaching the disciples, (although in a sense he was leading by example) but he was most definately doing something of import, even though it probably didn’t seem like anything special to those who observed him. Watchman Nee talks about acting without God’s prompting, and that it’s much better to wait for God to tell you to do something. It seems though that if you think you should do something but are waiting on God’s prompting, then you are doing something, which is watching and praying. So all that to say, I think that it’s not a matter of when to do and when not to, but rather what to do and when to do something else. I like to think of it as active living. You can “do” something relaxing, or you can “do” hard work. You can “do” something for God, or you can wait (which is doing something) and spend time with God.
See where I’m going? I don’t feel I’ve been very clear but if you understand what I’m saying than that’s a start. =O)
— johnthemusician · May 12, 11:56 AM · #
Also just wanted to say that your post was really excellent Chris. I sense that you’ve developed a great deal of wisdom in the last few years. I’m also quite glad to have had a wonderful friend and brother such as you. =O)
— johnthemusician · May 12, 11:58 AM · #
Hey John, Chris, Joseph, others!
I think all of you are accurate in your ideas regarding doing. But going back to John’s initial post, this kind of doing was contrasted (if I may be so bold) with the temptation of apathetic relaxation. His point was: when confronted with a choice between apathy and doing, DO! and many benefits will come from that.
In the doing that has been recently addressed, it seems to me to be more of the “I’m taking things into my own hands” as opposed to waiting on God. I would parallel this type of doing with the Mary/Martha story.
What I can gather from all of this: balance. (Joseph called this equilibrium in another post.) When faced with apathy, DO! When faced with “overexerting” or overworking, wait and listen.
What do y’all think?
— Patrick · May 14, 10:52 AM · #
Well said. I couldn’t have put it better myself. I think Balance, moderation is fundamental to all things. Never too much, never too little. Except when addressing God’s nature himself. There can never be enough of God’s spirit in our lives. If we tap into Jesus’ spirit, then we will be met with the nurishment to ensure our survival, our growth, and an abundance of fruit.
At least this is my thought on the matter, generalisations are always dangerous territory.
— johnthemusician · May 14, 11:57 PM · #
so…how are you all “DOING”? ;-)
or maybe I should say, “what are you DOING?
— joseph · May 15, 11:27 AM · #
you guysa are truly blessed!
— Genesis Abreu · May 15, 04:07 PM · #