TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2021 VIRTUES

 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2021 VIRTUES

Philippians 4:8 “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” 

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Virtue definition: “Virtue is moral excellence. A virtue is a trait or quality that is deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. In other words, it is a behavior that shows high moral standards: doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. The opposite of virtue is vice. “

The four classic cardinal virtues in Christianity are temperance, prudence, courage (or fortitude), and justice. Christianity derives the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love”  (from Wikipedia)

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TEMPERANCE

While I think of “temperance” as refraining from drinking alcohol.  But, here is a classical view (from Wikipedia):

“Temperance in its modern use is defined as moderation or voluntary self-restraint.  It is typically described in terms of what an individual voluntarily refrains from doing. This includes restraint from revenge by practicing non-violence and forgiveness, restraint from arrogance by practicing humility and modesty, restraint from excesses such as extravagant luxury or splurging, and restraint from rage or craving by practicing calmness and self-control.”

“Temperance has been described as a virtue by religious thinkers, philosophers, and more recently, psychologists, particularly in the positive psychology movement. It has a long history in philosophical and religious thought.”

Can I restrain myself from overeating? (I haven’t done so well in the past month).  Can I restrain myself from eating junk food?  (I’m on a “see-food” diet - if I see food, I eat it!!!)

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And, look at those other terms - non-violence, forgiveness, avoiding arrogance, humility, modesty, not with extravagance, not splurging, not raging or not craving, but having calmness, and self-control.

Okay, I can be rash at times (or impetuous).  It has been a while since I ate a whole carton of ice cream in a sitting - but I have.  We sometimes think of things we should have done - as well as things that I did that I shouldn’t have done.  (I have trouble with the word “NO”)<grin>

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PRUDENCE

Prudence is the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason.

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Hmmm - I have been accused of thinking too much. Like Hamlet (Shakespearean play), who is accused of thinking too much, I think I’ve gotten into philosophy [maybe because I like philosophy, and maybe because I do a daily blog and need to get deeper in my brain]!!!

Maybe like temperance, I can be rash and not think enough.  

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COURAGE

Wikipedia describes this: Courage is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valour is courage or bravery, especially in battle. Physical courage is bravery in the face of physical pain, hardship, even death or threat of death, while moral courage is the ability to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal, discouragement, or personal loss.

I might say I am not courageous.  But, somehow, my brain has allowed (forced) me to think outside the box.  I get addressed as “sir”.  Becoming a woman has been a gutsy move.  Does that count as courageous?  Does promoting that LOVE WINS is a courageous move when the world says “It is okay to hate people?  

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JUSTICE

Justice is the moderation or mean between selfishness and selflessness – between having more and having less than one's fair share.

Justice is closely related, in Christianity, to the practice of Charity (virtue) because it regulates the relationships with others. It is a cardinal virtue, which is to say that it is "pivotal", because it regulates all such relationships, and is sometimes deemed the most important of the cardinal virtues.

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I like the concept of having one’s fair share.  As I’ve aged (and as I have had to live on my own in a 582 square foot apartment), I realize that downsizing is okay.  And, yes, I know I still have more than my one fair share and I am trying to take the concept of giving and supporting more into my thoughts. I don’t need a mansion - but I can’t condemn those that have larger and more elegant places to live.  Philippians 4:11-12 says “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.”

So, today starting a look at virtue:  Temperance, Prudence, Courage, Justice.  We’ll follow this theme this week!!

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LOVE WINS!!!

Karen