MOVING FROM FALSE IMPRESSIONS TO VIRTUES
As I mentioned in my last blog, I know that I cannot control the impressions that I make on others. I can, as I suggested, be aware of the impressions I don’t want to make. Being aware of impressions I don’t want to leave does affect my behavior but the impressions are still in the head and heart of the beholder.
However, there is no time that I cannot work on certain virtues in my life. Whether you are just beginning in your ministry or have retired as I have, there is no time when you can’t work on the virtues that you would like to display in life.
MY LIST OF VIRTUES
Here is my list of virtues. Some of them I do a better job of living out than others but I think they are all worth striving for.
- INTEGRITY: I have made my share of mistakes in life and will continue to do so. I would like to believe that I act with integrity. I want others to be able to say, he had integrity. I hope that is so especially when it costs me.
- COMPASSION: I want to display compassion for others at all times. Sometimes you have to make hard decisions that negatively affect others. I don’t ever want to do that devoid of compassion. I also don’t ever want to be too busy not to take time to be compassionate.
- GRATITUDE: Paul says that in all things we should be thankful. That is often difficult. At the very least I would like always to be aware of the many things for which I should be thankful. I don’t want to take life, relationships, or opportunities for granted.
- FAITHFULNESS: I believe I have been called by God. I hope that is not hubris but is an awareness that I am part of something bigger than myself. I want to remain faithful to God’s call no matter where it leads me.
- OPENNESS TO BEING CORRECTED: At least theoretically, I know that I am not always right in my thoughts and my actions. Since usually I learn from being corrected, I hope I can continue to grow in wisdom by acknowledging my errors. Particularly I want to be open to God’s corrective love
- TRUST IN GRACE: When I look back in my life, I recognize all of the unexpected turning points that have shaped me. I know that grace has been a significant part of my entire life. My hope is that my memory of my multiple experiences of grace will give me courage to trust in grace for my future. From the Bible it is clear that God does some of his best work with the undeserving. I don’t have to earn God’s graceful love, I just have to be open to it.
- BE NOT ANXIOUS: This is one of the more difficult virtues I have to work on. It builds on #6. Yet at any given moment, I find it difficult to relax and trust in God. While I can trust in God’s ultimate care, it is harder to trust in the daily challenges. Many times I’d rather pray, “Let this cup pass from me,” than “Thy will be done.”
FROM MY LIST TO YOURS
OK, that is my list. What is yours. Not only do I encourage you to make one, but I also think you would find it of great value to find a couple of colleagues and invite them to do the same. Then meet and share and discuss your lists.
You can be enriched both by the sharing and by the bonding that occurs as a result.
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