Do or Do Not, Peace in the “or”
“Do or do not. There is no try.” ~ Yoda
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” ~ James 1:5-6
Who knew Yoda was channeling James?
Wisdom is there for the asking. But, when you ask…believe. Ah, there’s the rub. Doubt. You know, doubting yourself. Very aware that you cannot do. And that sets us doubting the One who never “tries” – just does. What He says, goes. What He speaks, is.
Wouldn’t it be nice if it were simple? Whatever occurred to me that needs doing, just do it. (Like the Nike ads). I’m faced with several dilemma’s here:
- there’s so much that needs doing
- there’s so little I can do about much of what needs doing
- who am I to say what needs doing?
- am I meant to be the one doing it?
It’s a dilemma for me, for sure. When I know about things that ought to be better, I wanna do, but should I? I pick up the morning paper and read about all the things wrong in the world. Hunger and poverty, war and injustice, murders and crime, lying and cheating and political spin…it’s a regular 10 commandment-breaking heyday out there. I wanna do something about everything. It’s reflexive. Some might say…kinesthetic.
But then, I don’t really know what to do. Or perhaps I’m not meant to do. If I can make a difference, should I? If I can do something but my doing it would make little to no difference, should I? Really, my potential impact shouldn’t be the deciding factor. My awareness shouldn’t really be either – though I can’t act on something I don’t know about. It all comes back to that doggone discernment. Resting in the “or.” Do or do not. Wait, and see what God tells you before you fly off the handle – again.
This is a good reminder to me today, as I send my high schooler back to school. There are so many hardships out there, and I’ll hear about plenty of them when she comes home. Most – a decreasing number actually – are not mine to manage. I’m her sounding board, her scratching post and yes, sometimes her punching bag. My blood does boil and my muscles tense when I hear what happens out there in the world, especially when it happens to someone I love. But I need to spend more time in the “or.”
I believe I’ll start now, giving the ‘or’ to God – whatever might come. Perhaps by the end of the school day I’ll have quieted enough to hear peace in the which things I must do and those which I must not do. Trying is way too hard.
Holding on to those words…
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” ~ John 14:27
Because the moment they were spoken, they were so, they are so, they will ever be so. That is the mystery of faith. Do not doubt, but believe.
Posted on September 4, 2012, in Uncategorized and tagged discernment, do or do not, God, James, Peace, Star wars, there is not try, Yoda. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
The Kinesthetic Christian 
I always, rather most of the time, I start my day with checking e-mail. Today your post was right there. In the shower I had been pondering what to do with my day since I’m still on a reprieve from taking care of the grandchildren. I NEED to prepare for my Bible study next week. I NEED to make the table runners for the Bishop’s consecration. But, I WANT to spend time with my oldest grandson who isn’t starting school today. You know, do something fun and special. When I’m gone, which is much more of a reality to me now than it was some months back, I want him to remember me in a good way and not always doing what I think NEEDS to be done. The sun is shining so I think we may go to the park and perhaps the toy store. His birthday is next week. We’ll try to finish it off with a trip to Sweet Frog’s. After all my NEEDs can be done when it is raining and he is back in school. It always amazing me how your blogs coincide with things that are on my mind. Have a great day !
🙂 I can just see you enjoying your excursions with your sweet little boy, Mary Anne. Thank you for sharing this. I feel truly blessed. I realize I often put things off “until I have plenty of time” only to realize that the plenty doesn’t come or its not nearly as plentiful as I thought it would be. I do love the expression – I think it belongs to Oswald Chambers – “how much of God’s will did Jesus get done in 24 hours?”
I can’t approach that, but every so often I feel like I’ve given Him a whole hour or two. As you will today. As you do regularly. I keep reminding myself that God will provide the time for all he intends for me to do. Have a sweet frog treat for me!