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To the disciples
who were always
asking for words
of wisdom
the Master said,
"Wisdom is not
expressed in words.
It reveals itself
in action."
But when
he saw them
plunge headlong
into activity,
he laughed aloud
and said,
"That isn't action.
That's motion."
The above story, told by Anthony De Mello, confronts us with the oft identification of busyness with faithfulness. According to this popular equation, the more I am doing, then, the more committed I am. Then, the more I am committed, the more committed I want to be, thus, the busier I must be. And, if not careful, the more I show myself committed by what I do, the more I am asked to do by others and, then, the more I do because I want to show I am committed by doing.
There is only one escape from the tyranny of motion. Grace. In the gracefulness of Love, we can act out of motives that transcend the self. Likewise, we can realize that time for Silence and Stillness develops our intimacy with the Depths, from which we can be most deeply and compassionately with others, without our ego-self standing between the other and ourselves.
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