The Life of Virtue

This post will officially be filed under "Derek's Not In Control," which is something that I usually wouldn't admit. There's so much going on in so many different areas of my life; and it seems like it's all piling up like the two inches of snow outside! Last week, my wife, who's 36-weeks pregnant, was placed by her doctor on bed rest. For those of you who don't know, that means that she can't drive or do many household chores. I have become chauffeur, cook, maid (that one's not getting done very well!), and all-instance-diaper-changer. Less than two days after my wife was placed on bed rest, our region was hit by two "terrible" winter storms that closed schools and businesses. While everyone and everything else took a snow day, my work requirements moved forward. So, emails, phone calls, and strategic planning were interrupted by Barney and Thomas the Tank Engine videos. Productivity on those days was slow, at best. So, the f...

As I prayed over On the Canticle of Canticles , by St. Bernard of Clairvaux, this morning, I came across a wonderful passage. He was explained that there are definitive characteristics that identify a beautiful soul. Of course, each of the noticeable markers is a virtue! "Certainly, her [the soul's] beauty is made up of charity and justice and patience. And what of voluntary poverty? What of humility?...In her one sees fear of the Lord, prudence, temperance, fortitude, and whatever other virtues there may be, pearls as it were, adorning the bride with undying luster." (From Chapter 17) So, I am convinced more than yesterday (and the day before, and the day before) that virtues have the potential to bring self-mastery and beauty back into this world. Without forming habits like charity, justice, patience, voluntary poverty, humility, piety, prudence, temperance, and fortitude, our culture will certainly continue swiftly toward its own ruin. My prayer is this: that mo...