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May ends with a sunny day, great weather for working in the garden. I did that today but also with my wife’s help we did some spring cleaning of the garage. Tools, bird and grass seeds, ornaments, pots all add up to make a mess.
As we move from spring into summer the pace of preparation for the garden picks up. There still is more planting of seeds and seedlings to go in my home model gardens and in the DMZ community garden. It seems every year we start earlier but every year there is more to do as time runs out. I think it is the old adage in life that the more you do the more you need to do. This is especially true if you are successful in doing. And it has been true in my work jobs in the past, selling advertising or youth minister. The old myth of once you do something it becomes easier is just that, a myth. The more you do the more there is to do.
Being can also be like doing — the more you be the more you are called on to be. I am called on to be with persons, by phone, visit to the hospital, talking with families at homeless shelter or playing with children.
Gardening is a doing thing but also a being thing. You need to do things but can do it in such a way to be with nature.
My friend Lorenzo who was killed in Guatemala was more of a being type than a doing type. He spent most of his time being with victims of violence, with the elderly left in the streets to die or with youth suffering AIDS. Lorenzo was fully present in all he did and was, which meant for him many hours spent in silent prayer.
Recently a common friend of Lorenzo’s and mine was in Guatemala City when Lorenzo’s funeral took place. She sent me pictures from his funeral. Notice how many mourners were present for this simple holy person whose goal was to be with the poor. He was a being in the best sense. He never started any organization or group for the poor, yet poor, rich, and all in between will remember him as man of action — who walked the talk.
Martin Luther King said that the busier he got the more he had to step back and spend more time in prayer and reflections. If the choice is between to be or do I choose to be.
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