What does it mean to do good? We don’t ask this often because on first glance, it would seem that if someone is “doing” good, then it does not need to be questioned. What is so wrong with helping others? Well, nothing of course. The more interesting question is what are our motives?
Tom Shadyac, a Hollywood director famous for his comedies, such as “Ace Ventura” and “Liar Liar,” made a documentary about “what is wrong with our world and what can we do about it.” The film is called “I AM.” Oh, I am sure that you can already guess where he got the title, and the whole unity and oneness of people, and Mother Earth, and glorious colors of the world holding hands together, dripping with goo of harmony, diversity and oneness. (I feel a little sick to my stomach here…).
Shadyac is convinced that America is just too materialistic. He came to this conclusion by purchasing a 17,000 sq/ft house, moving into it, and feeling empty. This is a valid feeling, but like most people, he went too far. He moved into a 1,000 sq/ft mobile home (albeit in Malibu!) and he was set on telling the rest of the world that we should do it too (but just so you know, he is not telling us what to do but he really is).
During the filming, Shadyac has concluded three points:
1. It is scientifically proven that the entire human race is connected.
2. It is human nature to be cooperative rather than competitive.
3. If you don't do what your heart wants you to do and follow your passion, it will destroy you.
Notice the strange omission of “God” and the focus on “human.” That question keeps coming back to me: what can WE do? There is all this talk about “authentic selves” and we seem to think that we can figure that out by taking God out of the equation? Or let me be even clearer: not just God but God’s will. There is elegance in God’s will, and we are missing the point over and over again if we think that we will “find” our true self without looking for God. In the end, it is not us that actually find the truth or God. God and Truth find us.
In 2003, three young filmmakers made a documentary film about the terrible fate of children of Uganda, who are forced to become soldiers. Any sane person can see the insanity and immorality of this situation. They went as far as to say that “this is the year when [the crime against these children] will end.” I am not objecting to the recognition of this atrocity. What I am objecting to is the denial of true nature of evil, and the audacity to imply that we have the power to produce salvation. This is naïve, idealistic talk.
A very good friend of mine said to me “You should always avoid evil. But you cannot “do” good all the time.” What this means is that we have to prioritize. There is a difference between being with people (helping) and retreating into “the desert.” In order to be productive and creative in our giving, we also need spiritual nourishment. In this instance, of course, our relationship to God is essential. We have to make time for the dialogue with God. By praying, we face ourselves in the truest form, in reality. Then we are able to make choices on how to “do” good, and more importantly, how to combine the active and contemplative life harmoniously.
Mandating “good” as some sort of social cause will crumble because the structure does not consist of theological reflection. Suddenly, doing good will become a “state mandate”: like urging people to volunteer. This smacks of collectivism and it will certainly fail.
Doing good begins with opening our hearts to God.
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