Often our whole formation structure and all our activities are geared towards, perhaps unconsciously, making one 'feel good'. Whether it is prayer, work, study, relationship, apostolate... The same is repeated when the students complete their basic formation and are involved in full-time apostolate, not just in their early years but all through life. Make people 'feel good'. So we have 'good' sermons, 'radical' documents, 'smiling' relationships, 'high-scoring' students, ...
Some of these boys go on to also 'do good'. That certainly is one step ahead of merely 'feeling good'. So, some charitable works once in a way. Some heroic deeds in some place... the rest of time is spent on riding high on the good feeling that is earned from such deeds!
However, very few - very very very few - graduate to 'being good'. Now that's a different ball game! 'Feeling good' is a form of escapism (from growing in depth, from being men of substance). 'Doing good' is a form of lethargy (can, but do not will). 'Being good' on the other hand, demands a sustained endeavour, a collective effort, radical choices and lifestyle in congruence with those choices, a steady and joyful commitment... there is no play acting here, no breaks/holidays (from being good).
Some of these boys go on to also 'do good'. That certainly is one step ahead of merely 'feeling good'. So, some charitable works once in a way. Some heroic deeds in some place... the rest of time is spent on riding high on the good feeling that is earned from such deeds!
However, very few - very very very few - graduate to 'being good'. Now that's a different ball game! 'Feeling good' is a form of escapism (from growing in depth, from being men of substance). 'Doing good' is a form of lethargy (can, but do not will). 'Being good' on the other hand, demands a sustained endeavour, a collective effort, radical choices and lifestyle in congruence with those choices, a steady and joyful commitment... there is no play acting here, no breaks/holidays (from being good).
I didn't quite get what you mean by 'doing good' as a form of lethargy.
ReplyDeleteBeing good of course, would be the most difficult to achieve. Feeling and doing are fully cognitive. And I was wondering whether the state of being good is even a state that is recognised by the said person. It would simply be his way of being (the choices, lifestyle etc. that you mention) that others might consider 'good'. For instance, Jesus. I doubt if he thought of himself as a good person by anyone's standards. He seems like he just thought he was the son of God and that his father was good. You see what i mean?