by Rev. Jeffrey O. Smith
“Go out and be useful!” I often heard this phrase growing up when I was inside the house. I think my parents probably used it when they wanted some quiet in the house. Inherent in the phrase, though, was that “usefulness” is only when something is done for other people. There is a bit of truth to this idea, but the idea can also be misleading.
Usefulness is an outward manifestation, or an appearance (appearing?); we have a desire to act from something we care about, and that is coupled with a knowledge of how to act, and these appear in outward form as an action. In New Church terms, usefulness is a product of love and wisdom. Usefulness isn’t any old action, though—it must promote God’s plan. My personal working definition of usefulness is this: helping things work the way God intended them to work. Everything God created, and the way things work in the universe, serves His overall purpose of building a heaven from the human race.
This is where we often think of usefulness as pertaining to actions that directly affect and help the neighbor or our church – we think about helping people get to heaven, which is in line with the Lord’s purpose of creation. This is true, but it’s not only direct actions to the neighbor that can be useful, it’s also indirectly good actions that can be useful. In fact, from waking to sleeping, and even sleeping itself, can fall into the category of usefulness.
Can brushing teeth be truly useful? Absolutely! If a person brushes their teeth so they can be healthy and able to chew food so that they can nourish their body and have energy to help others through life and to heaven, then that is truly useful. It’s helping everything work the way God intended—healthy teeth, nourished body, people going to heaven.
Can sitting on a couch be useful? Absolutely! If a person is sitting on the couch because they are tired, or because they are feeling “off” that day, and they want to give their body and mind time to rest so that later they can be fully present for their spouse, children, or coworkers, then sitting on the couch is quite useful. It’s helping everything work the way God intended—rested body, healthy mind, people going to heaven.
The usefulness depends less on the action and more on the intention behind the action. In fact, the usefulness depends entirely on a person’s intentions, and not at all on the outward appearance of the deed itself.
So, I say, “Go out and be useful!” … and also “Stay home and be useful!” Just make an effort to align your intentions with God’s plan.