Cogito Ergo Facere

I missed the chance to give away my Chacos today.

Shut up and read. Yes, you. Sit down, be quiet, and let your mind do the talking while your eyes catch up. Read. I know, they're brand new sandals. Good brand, good sandals. I still missed out.

I was on my lunch break, wandering over to the state office building to put something in the mail. On the way back, I was waiting at the crosswalk. There were two people waiting on the other side. One was a man who might have been a little warm. Lincoln's cooled down in the last couple days but mid- to high-eighties is still on the warm side for wearing jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. It wasn't until I was halfway across the street that I realized what made the man noticeable. I'd seen him bend forwards and backwards before the light changed, but that was just stretching. It started when he stepped down onto the street. His first step was cautious, like a person stepping onto a frozen lake. After that, he strolled forward casually, but my mind had already catalogued an important fact: this man was walking barefoot.

If you've ever walked barefoot over gravel or concrete, you know it's not pleasant. Making it hot just reduces the pleasantry. Your brief "hello" in passing becomes a frantic head bob as you sprint past. But this man walked unhurriedly across the street and continued on his way.

Sadly, it wasn't until I was across the street that I realized I could have offered him my sandals. My second thought was an objection that the sandals cost $80. The third thought gave the second thought a fatal beating and reminded me that it would have been Jesus-like to give away my footwear, new or not.

I missed an opportunity to preach. Not sermoning, not lecturing, not 28-fundamentalizing--preaching. I will remind you of the words of St. Francis of Assisi: "Preach at all times. Use words when necessary."

I missed an opportunity to do. I'm a huge Star Wars fan and I've found that some of the lines are solidly true. For example, "Do, or do not. There is no try." I did not do today. I only thought of doing. The difference between the two is so massive that you can fit an entire universe between them. Let me illustrate. When the world ends and everyone is judged, Jesus will not say, "I was thirsty and you thought of bringing me a drink. I was hungry and you thought of making food for me. I was naked and you thought of clothes for me. I was in prison and you thought of visiting me." Doesn't work like that. The phrase, "It's the thought that counts," is a lie. If thought is all you offer, don't be surprised if thought is all you get. Action begets action. "Cogito ergo sum--I think, therefore I am." Not, "I think, therefore I do."

So let's stop thinking about doing and just go do. Instead of thinking of exercise, go exercise. Instead of thinking of food, go eat. Instead of thinking of chasing God, get your runners on (not your Chacos) and sprint down the street. He won't run too far ahead of you. Just far enough to keep you running.

Do you get it? Or do you only think you do?