God is never impressed with prayers when actions are not informed by them. Nor does God spare us from the consequences of our deeds, which, in the end, matter more than the words we pray. – The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde
The words of Rev. Budde, offered so eloquently and firmly a few weeks ago as a reminder to the incoming President that compassionate action is at the heart of a spiritual life, were not simply calling out the spiritual hypocrisy of a cynical administration, but were a clarion call to all of us.
Justice, she illustrated, isn’t just a word; it’s action that considers the effect of one’s words and behavior on others. Mercy isn’t just a theological concept; it’s a concrete behavior that recognizes that we are all human, doing the best we can. Humility is more than stepping out of the limelight; it’s making space to give others the chance to shine. And unity isn’t a just a feel-good slogan; it requires action that builds on common ground, regardless of our differences.
Ultimately, as Rev. Budde reminded the audience and us, in order to live by the principles that all of our faith and wisdom traditions teach us and build the better world we want to live in, we have to go beyond words to action. We must act justly, love mercy, walk humbly, not just pay lip service to those ideals.
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, one of the great contemporary theologians and teachers, taught that “By inwardness alone we do not come close to God. The purest intentions, the finest sense of devotion, the noblest spiritual aspirations are fatuous when not realized in action.”
It’s become all too common to put forth the illusion of spirituality, to dress oneself up in spiritual clothes and claim to be a source of light unto the nations. In fact, it’s the stock and trade of spiritual materialism and Internet memes. Appearing “spiritual” is the currency of the day, but it’s worthless without action. We can talk about Hope, Love, or Unity, but unless we act in ways that help make those ideals reality, they’re empty spiritual slogans.
Rabbi Heschel, who called faith a “Leap of Action,” explains: “Action is the verification of the spirit. Does friendship consist of mere emotion? Of indulgence in feeling? Is it not always in need of tangible, material means of expression? The life of the spirit too needs concrete actions for its actualization.” The Ten Commandments, the Buddhist Eightfold Path, Daoist concepts of De, or virtue, the Hindu Yamas and Niyamas, and all the other teachings of our great faith and wisdom traditions give us instructions for what to do, not what to feel or think. Faith requires actions.
This is what Rev. Budde was trying to teach, and it’s something we all must take to heart. As we move through these challenging times, we each have to step into the ring in our own way. It no longer suffices to talk a spiritual game from the sidelines. We actually have to act in tangible, concrete ways that embody our spiritual aspirations.
Not all of us are called to be “spiritual warriors” as another contemporary theologian, Matthew Fox, asserts. Moreover, I am not convinced that we change a culture of war and hate with more war-like language or actions that feed the outrage industry. But we do have to make choices for ourselves that put our spirituality into practice.
How we do that is up to each of us individually. As my teacher used to say, “You have to do what’s in front of you to do.” For some, that might be more public. For others, it might be quieter. And many of us don’t know exactly what is ours to do, yet. But, as Rev. Budde exhorted, the point is that our actions must correlate with our spirituality, and we are all being called to walk our talk.
That said, words are also a form of action: how we speak, the words we use to ourselves and to others, can make or break us. As we have seen in the last few weeks, the language of contempt, othering, vengeance, conquest, or falsity, has real, painful and dangerous consequences. That’s another thing that Rev. Budde was pointing out both through the words of her sermon and by giving the sermon itself. Our words carry weight, and her words were her action. Speaking as she did was risky and bold, but also deeply compassionate and embedded in spiritual truth. It was a powerful action. As we consider our actions in the world, I encourage all of us to remember that words have power and to be mindful not just of what we say, but of when, where, how and to whom we speak, whether online or in person.
When I think about how I can put my spirituality into practice, I return to TEN WORDS. The Ten Words are my “to-do list” for spiritual action in these times (and all times). Attention, Acceptance, Authenticity, Benevolence, Balance, Contemplation, Creativity, Collaboration, Celebration and Care are not just feelings or aspirational ideology: they are concrete ways of being and behaving that put spirituality into action. If we are turning our attention to acting with honesty, kindness, creative solutions, community, and care for others, we are, in fact, doing something that makes the world a better place for all.
I can’t tell you what you need to do. Only you know that. And it’s going to be different from person to person and might change from day to day. But if your dedication is to make good on your spiritual ideals and beliefs, then it’s imperative that you translate them into actions. Intention only goes so far: follow-through matters. Now, more than ever. As Rev. Budde said, “And we are right to pray for God’s help as we seek unity, for we need God’s help, but only if we ourselves are willing to tend to the foundations upon which unity depends.”
So, as our theme for the month, I invite you to explore what verbs – actions – form the basis of your spirituality? And what are you going to do to put them into practice?