Why Are You Doing It?
09/01/2010
A few days ago on my way to work I was passed by a car that had several sort of feel-good vaguely left-wing-ish stickers on the rear window--you know, something warm about peace, something warm about the earth, something warm about the Episcopal Church. Then there was one that said "If it doesn't bring you joy, why are you doing it?"
This was obviously meant to make you think about how unhappy you were, and perhaps spur you to dump that stupid job and whatever else is keeping you from finding whatever you imagine "joy" to be. But several answers came to my mind:
Because it's your duty.
Because you gave your word.
Because someone is depending on you.
Because it's right.
I fully believe that doing something for any of those reasons will, in the long run, bring you joy. But it may be the very long run, and you may not feel very joyful while you're doing it. And I don't think that's what the sticker-sticker had in mind. This idea that we are somehow entitled to pursue whatever we think will make us happy right now seems to me one of the most destructive of the vague influences hovering in the cultural air, however much it may be decorated with unicorns and rainbows.
Amen.
Posted by: Louise | 09/02/2010 at 03:46 AM
In one of Aristotle's works he enumerates the good reasons for doing a particular act. They are (a) enjoyment, (b) duty, and (c) I forget exactly what he says. I don't remember where he says it. This has not been a very helpful comment.
Posted by: Craig | 09/02/2010 at 08:27 AM
Well, it's been 2/3 helpful.
AMDG
Posted by: Janet | 09/02/2010 at 09:19 AM
Don't worry, we'll of course take your word that he did say (a) and (b), and cite your comment as authoritative should we find ourselves in a debate. I do wonder what (c) is, though. Probably not "just because."
Posted by: Mac | 09/02/2010 at 09:31 AM
The catechism is pretty clear: to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world; and to be happy with Him forever in the next.
Posted by: Paul | 09/02/2010 at 12:20 PM
I know what you mean by your somewhat negative reaction to seeing that sticker, and I'm sure you're probably correct in your assumptions about the sticker-sticker. But for whatever reason -- maybe I'm just feeling a little less cynical this morning -- I'm inclined to give him/her the benefit of the doubt, and congratulate that person on asking what turns out to be a pretty decent question.
It's definitely something I find myself asking on a regular basis about various aspects of life. Well, actually, I find myself asking the more basic version: "Why am I doing X?" Where X could be anything from "eating this sandwich" to "voting." The thing that ties it into that sticker is that if I can't think of a good reason for doing whatever-it-is, then I should probably consider changing course. Sometimes it takes a while to figure out what the reason might be, though...
Posted by: Jesse Canterbury | 09/02/2010 at 01:09 PM
Well that was kind of a rambling comment...what I meant by "the more basic version" was just "Why are you doing X?" without any if/then setup and without regard to the whole joy thing. Which is what you titled the post.
...I'll be happy to contribute more redundant insights in the near future.
Posted by: Jesse Canterbury | 09/02/2010 at 01:14 PM
Today is definitely a duty sort of day.
AMDG
Posted by: Janet | 09/02/2010 at 01:31 PM
Sorry, I'm trying to meet a 3:00 deadline--will comment later.
Posted by: Mac | 09/02/2010 at 02:06 PM
Yeah, it's not that there's anything wrong with asking why about anything we do. It's the suggestion that "I enjoy it" is basically the beginning and ending of all "why"s that's the problem.
From the Christian point of view, Dr. Johnson has better advice: "Mayest thou, O God, enable me for Jesus Christ’s sake, to spend this [day] in such a manner that I may receive comfort from it at the hour of death, and in the day of judgement! Amen."
I have this conjecture, not supported by scripture or doctrine as far as I know, but not incompatible with it, that in the new creation we will somehow have access to the times in our earthly lives that were truly good. And times when we neglected the good we were supposed to be doing won't be there, they'll be lost forever, perhaps after serving some purgatorial purpose.
Posted by: Mac | 09/02/2010 at 06:37 PM
That's a great quote.
AMDG
Posted by: Janet Cupo | 09/02/2010 at 09:38 PM
"I have this conjecture, not supported by scripture or doctrine as far as I know, but not incompatible with it, that in the new creation we will somehow have access to the times in our earthly lives that were truly good. And times when we neglected the good we were supposed to be doing won't be there, they'll be lost forever, perhaps after serving some purgatorial purpose."
I believe this too--I think this is also how Creation will be redeemed through us. And that is supported by Scripture ("all Nature is groaning to be delivered").
And I really like that quote from Dr. Johnson.
Posted by: Ryan C | 09/02/2010 at 10:44 PM