I remember a time early in my college ‘career’ when I came to the conclusion that these were two incredibly important concepts, at least for me. In many ways I think they have directed me throughout my life, at least I hope so. I also remember a banner I made for my college room – it was on a yellow canvas cloth background with the words: Be your who, Do your what. Not necessarily an easy standard to live by but it was often(?) the basis on which I did make decisions… probably subconsciously.
I still believe that whether it is consciously determined or not, we all direct our lives according to some internal standard that makes sense to us. Hopefully, the words are a positive influence and ones that are embolden us to act on what we say we believe. In my world of definitions, those two words can’t be separated because they define one another. You really can’t Be who you are and not Do what you do. And you can’t Do what you do without a basis of your Be, who you are. Circular – yes.
I do not believe that we have been created to be mindless, to act only on instinct. Why would we be given a brain if not to use it? Why would we spend as much time as we do trying to learn and understand if it wasn’t to ‘utilize’ this to form our mindset, our frame of reference? Scripture tells us that we have been wonderfully and fearfully made (Psalm 139:14). I interpret this to me that we shouldn’t throw ourselves away… nor anyone else. If we are known by Who created us, God (Genesis 1:28), then we have a fantastic beginning with an incredible future.
Too often we tend to give in to a negative view of ourselves or others – but that does not come from our Creator. Why believe the lie? Why act on the lie? It may take all the courage we can muster to Be and Do, but it is within our DNA to do this. The Father was telling us in every word of scripture Who we are, What we are capable of accomplishing, Why we are here, and that He would be with us in the process. All we need Do is Be.
