That doesn’t sound right does it? It’s supposed to go “So much to do, so little time to do it.” Why the re-phrasing? I think the ‘do’ version is distinctly western, and at that, American. Now before you go Born on the Fourth of July on me, there has to be room to critique and challenge. And I’m doing so from a distinctly Christian perspective. America is ‘do’ centered. We have to-do lists and plans about how to get done what we need to do and meetings about the plans about how to get done what we need to do. My contention is that Christianity has been sucked into a similar ‘do’ vacuum.

Jesus certainly ‘did’ many things. He was a busy God-man. But he also modeled the importance of ‘being.’ He retreated to desolate places, places of solitude. There he prayed. Did he speak the whole time? Doubtful. I sense he likely listened more than he spoke. He centered himself in the Father. Jesus knew his psalms.

– Psalm 37:7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.

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

– Psalm 62.1 My soul finds rest in God alone.

There is unquestionably a command for disciples of Christ to ‘do’ godly things. However, apart from ‘being,’ burnout is guaranteed. The yoke of Christ will no longer feel light. You will become a slave to your list, a slave to the expectations of others. But you’ll have lost your center.

Are you creating margin in your life, daily, in which you refuse to ‘do’? Some will argue, “Aren’t you in essence ‘doing’ by choosing to ‘be’?” Can God create a rock so heavy he can’t lift it? Same question in my mind.

Do you have margin for ‘being’? If so, what works for you?