Doing With God
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven…” - Matthew 7:21, 24-27
Ever heard of the phrase: actions speak louder than words? It has become apparent to me more recently as I continue to walk on this journey called life; that I must consistently lift up everything to God, ask God my questions, and wonder what will happen because control is one of the great illusions.
These past two years, I decided to dedicate time to getting a degree in photography. This journey started out as wanting to take better pictures during my travels and after my first photography class, I wanted to learn more. From the history of photography to finding meaning in photographs and from the art to the science, photography has transformed me. There is so much more to photography than I could ever imagined like how photography is the study of light or how to roll your own film in complete darkness or how to evoke an emotion. So much of photography is by doing in order to build the skills needed and no one can embed the skills within you without practice. It is the little by little. Inch by inch. From carrying the 50lbs of lighting equipment to making a detailed checklist for the next photo shoot, I must get the shot and there is no escaping from doing the work.
This action of doing with God is what quiets those voices that cramps my soul and brings about my creativity. By going about this world with God, any moment can become grace-filled moment. Even in my moments of anger, annoyance, frustration, and deep-rooted fear. This action of doing with God constantly teaches me how to rely on God’s graces rather than allowing my weaknesses to become my crutch. Do I become who God calls me to be or do I become who the world around me wants me to become? Can I let God have the final word and not my thoughts?
The equation that the world puts forth of how to live a good life is not necessarily the equation from God. Each of us are uniquely made and intimately loved by God. Perhaps we have lost our way because what once worked, does not work anymore. Maybe we think a relationship with God is impossible. As in the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” May the spirit of the Advent season beckon us to action with God.
Tram Nguyen