They can prepare for what we do, but they can’t prepare for who we are.—Dabo Swinney, Head Coach of the Clemson Tigers, talking with the team before the Ohio State game on December 28.

That’s who we are. That’s what we do. We finish. —Dabo Swinney after Clemson defeated Ohio State on December 28.

So which is it? Which is more important, what we do or who we are? People wrestle with this as evidenced by this series of quotes that surfaced in the late 1960s.

The last line is a series of nonsense syllables from Frank Sinatra’s version of “Strangers in the Night.” No one really knows the actual origin of the other versions, but the story of an owner posting the first line on his warehouse wall followed by others in his company posting the other two lines is true, according to quoteinvestigator.com.

A number of years ago, a friend of mine, reflecting on all the inspirational leadership biographies floating around observed, “You can’t do what they do unless you are what they are.”

Surely, who we are is important, but often that’s reflected by what we do.

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. (James 2.18, NIV, emphasis mine)

There’s a saying around Christmas or any other gift-giving time, “It’s the thought that counts.” Actually, with respect to “holy moments” or doing good for someone, it’s not the thought that counts, it’s the execution.

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. (James 4.17, NIV)

You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world…Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5.13 – 16, NIV, emphasis mine)