But be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. (James 1:22)

              Don’t just sit there, DO SOMETHING!

              That is the modern way, isn’t it? It seems we always have to be DOING something. Got to be going somewhere, making something, “experiencing life.” Or at the very least, got to be looking at our phones to see what everyone else is DOING. No time to sit still. We can rest when we’re dead.

              I know that’s not what the author of James was talking about when they tell us to be “doers of the word.” They’re talking about putting faith into action. We can’t just say we love our neighbor and then ignore their plight. Yes, DO SOMETHING!

              But while we are busy focusing on the doing, we overlook the next part of this verse which says, “and not MERELY hearers.” Did you catch that? We are being told to be doers AFTER we have first paused to listen. We are not MERELY hearers, but we are still hearers. We still have to listen.

              That’s true for faith and for our lives in general. The constant doing, the constant running from one thing to the next, never taking time to sit still (without our phones) has left most of us exhausted. Ask someone how they’re doing and more often than not the response will be, “I’m tired. I’m worn out. I’m exhausted.” Everyone is tired. All the time. Because stopping to hear the world around us is seen as weakness, idleness, a waste of time.

              Maybe if we paused and listened, we would hear creation “groaning in travail” (Romans 8:22) as we abuse her resources.

              Maybe if we paused and listened, we would hear the voices of our neighbors and better understand our differences and maybe even treat one another with dignity and respect. Imagine that.

              Maybe, just maybe, if we took a minute to listen, we would even hear God’s own voice telling us how to best to use our gifts and what to do next. Maybe?

              Yes, be doers of the word, and go out and do things. But be hearers, too, taking the time to listen, and breathe, and enjoy the wonder of the world around you. We are human BEINGS after all. Not human DOINGS.