Like a lot of people, I post my thoughts and ideas on Facebook and other social media. It feels good to express myself, and many people tell me that it touches their lives, informs their thought, or brightens their day. And that’s good. But words, while a form of action, only carry us so far. Translating words into deeds truly amplifies them in the world.

This is the difference between a sentiment espoused and one practiced. Donating to a candidate or cause and knocking on doors to support them do worlds more than just expressing agreement on my timeline. Handing a gift card for the local grocery store to a homeless person holding a cardboard sign moves the world a little bit. The early apostle James famously wrote that “faith without works is dead.” I need to not just believe in something, but to do something. Action is values made tangible.

What action can you take today to manifest your values in the world?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Simeon ben Gamliel (I) (c. 10 BCE – 70 CE) was a Tanna sage and leader of the Jewish people. He succeeded his father Gamliel I as the nasi of the Sanhedrin after his father’s death in 50 CE and just before the destruction of the Second Temple. According to Josephus Flavius he was killed by the Zealots during the civil war that accompanied the Jewish Revolt of 66-70 AD.