A human “being”, not a human “doing”
Some of us may be fortunate enough to have a holiday at this time of year. I have just returned from two lovely weeks in Cornwall with six lively children and a motley collection of adults, which was noisy and at times chaotic (perhaps not everyone’s idea of a holiday!), but where the relentlessness of time deadlines, and the constant pressure to do something or be somewhere was so wonderfully removed. A secluded cove, a flotilla of kayaks and paddleboards and calm, azure-blue sea provided us all with hours of great enjoyment, and the much-needed space simply to “be”.
This made me reflect on the frenetic nature of our lives, the pressure to “do”, to achieve, to be seen to be fully and productively occupied, to have diaries jam-packed with commitments as a sign of success and worthy of great merit. Somehow we’ve created a society where “doing” is valued so much more highly than “being”, and guilt creeps in if we find ourselves with a little free time when nothing is expected of us by ourselves or anyone else. Stress and burnout occur more and more frequently in work situations, and it’s difficult to escape from the unremitting demands of electronic communication even when we’re supposed to be on holiday.
The human being is just that – a human “being”, not a human “doing”. We all need space and time to stop doing and practice being with absolutely no agendas or timetables – a space with no oughts or shoulds or musts to keep us rushing from one task or activity to another. Time away from regular ringing, from organising practices and Sunday service ringing, from teaching and worrying about the future of the exercise is definitely needed too! If we must ring when we’re on holiday, perhaps we can find a tower where we ring for enjoyment’s sake and for the satisfaction of helping out rather than having the ultimate, unceasing responsibility that so drains and enervates.
The Gospels record a number of times when Jesus took himself away from the busyness of life, from the many, many people in such need and distress, because he knew that if he was to care for them, he needed time in quiet and solitude, time spent resting in the presence of God to be restored and re-energised for all that God was calling him to be and to do.
We all need this time apart from the unremitting demands of our lives – whether it’s from work, from ringing or simply from the routine commitments of our daily lives amongst our family, our friends or our communities. May we all have time this summer to reconnect with God, the source of life and love, the very ground of our “being”, to be loved, restored and re-energised for the important “doing” of life.
The Reverend Prebendary Nicky Seabright