We are so obsessed with doing that we have no time and no imagination left for being. As a result, [people] are valued not for what they are but for what they do or what they have - for their usefulness.
- Thomas Merton
So, what is it about usefulness? Is usefulness a bad thing? I wonder if Merton was much of a fan of utilitarian philosophies. It would seem from the quotation that the mystic in him was not. I imagine he would say that the true value of a human being is found in their "createdness"...their being a creation of God. Thus being and not usefulness. Right.
Prayer is the foundation for any right action. Only by being in the presence of God can we begin to understand what we are to do.
So, here we go again with the innovation thing again. Certainly usefulness has it's place in the life of the faithful. There are bills to pay, a physical life to manage somehow. These things are important. Certainly. But in the end, the Church (the community of the faithful both local and universal) is founded upon faith and not upon...stained glass. Don't get me wrong, I love stained glass. Love it. But that is not the foundation of the church. It's an expression of being.
An expression of being is worth pursuing as a line of thought in relation to innovation ala Google. Is the innovation an expression of being in the presence of God? As was stated in the comments, innovation for innovation's sake is problematic. But I wonder if innovation as an improvement works as well. Is the innovation useful or is it an expression of being in the presence of God? That's an interesting distinction to think through.
It can take us out of the "be relevant" temptation. Instead if we seek God first, seek God's presence and God's desire (will) for us individually and collectively, perhaps then we will find what it is that we are to do, the innovation we are to propose. Sometimes this innovation might be an improvement, a progressive step in a certain direction. But it also might be a clarification, a reiteration of what has always been held as essential to the Church.
"Sanctification" comes to mind. We are to become more like God. This happens only as God works in our lives. Our doing in response is simply that, a response.
So, ecclesial innovation is response to God and not to the market.
Maybe. Still pondering.
Posted by tripp at April 9, 2008 07:26 AMI have to run to a meeting, so this may not be cogent. Perhaps innovation is not a concept worth the wrestling match it seems to elicit. It isn't good or bad in itself, but it is necessary because humans are destined to change. More later if I have time.
Posted by: Rich at April 9, 2008 08:16 AMTripp, to say that "Prayer is the foundation for any right action." is to say that a person who doesn't believe, or who doesn't believe the way YOU believe cannot make a right action. Ever.
So... really???
Posted by: Megan at April 9, 2008 11:45 AMMegan,
It is not necessarily to say that. I write as a Christian from a Christian perspective. And in this post I'm writing about life as Church. So, it's automatically not about non-Christians. Speaking about and from a distinct community is not necessarily judgment against those not within that community.
I don't expect the Dali Lama to always write a caveat about inclusion of Christians when he speaks to his own.
I'm sorry you hear/read it that way. Truly.
Posted by: Tripp at April 9, 2008 12:28 PMI read and hear everything that way, not just your blog.
But, hearing your perspective on your audience is useful. I'm not "within that community," so some feeling of exclusion on my part is natural.
Posted by: Megan at April 9, 2008 12:30 PM