Welcome to The PATH (Monday Meditation) — A weekly reflection with three timeless insights for daily life. This week’s reflection searches for ancient lessons on theological virtues for modern living (Faith, Hope, and Love).
1. Faith
A recent conversation with Kevin Griffin (author of Living Kindness) discussed the existence of faith (or belief) in all our actions. To the question, “Why is it important to realize that we operating out of faith?” Griffin responded,
Even though Buddhism doesn’t seem to be a “faith-based” religion, it requires some faith or trust to engage fully. Deciding to spend time meditating implies faith that the process works. If we don’t have some faith in this process, then we won’t engage in it.
Every action we take is based on a belief that something will happen due to that action. But is faith a virtue?
The thirteenth-century Dominican priest St. Thomas Aquinas wrestled with this question (and many others). After several objections, Aquinas concluded: “It is by human virtue that human acts are rendered good; hence, any habit that is always the principle of a good act may be called a human virtue. Such a habit is living faith. … Therefore, living faith is a virtue.”
When we think of faith, we often label doubt as its opposite. However, a previous conversation with Simon Critchley (author of Bald: 35 Philosophical Shortcuts) revealed that “doubt is not the enemy of faith, on the contrary — it’s certainty.”
Similarly, the theologian Thomas Merton observed that we do not need to know precisely what is happening or exactly where it is all going. What we need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment and embrace them with courage, faith, and hope.
2. Hope
The English writer and philosopher G.K. Chesterton called hope the power of being cheerful in circumstances that we know to be desperate. Although not everyone is in agreement on the value of hope. “Hope is the evil of evils because it prolongs man’s torment,” according to philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.
Similarly, the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer observed,
What disturbs and depresses young people is the hunt for happiness on the firm assumption that it must be met with in life. From this arises constantly deluded hope and dissatisfaction.
Nietzsche believed that “by clinging to hope, we often make the suffering worse.” Although it does seem possible to have hope without “clinging,” a type of hope that remains in the present moment.
In Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, he explained,
I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair.
As discussed last week, despair is (often) part of leading a life. But hope (and faith) keeps us moving forward despite the anxiety and fear. As Merton put it, “A life that is without problems may literally be more hopeless than one that always verges on despair.”
3. Love
If wisdom is the way — then love is the practice. Love and wisdom are two sides of the same coin — inextricably linked. Furthermore, love like all virtues — should be viewed as action. As the fifteenth-century theologian St. Iganatius of Loyola pointed out, “Love ought to show itself in deeds.”
Where do we begin to cultivate the virtue of love?
In the classic, No Man Is an Island, Merton advised,
If we are to love sincerely and with simplicity, we must overcome the fear of not being loved. And this cannot be done by forcing ourselves to believe in some illusion, saying that we are loved when we are not. We must somehow strip ourselves of our greatest illusions by recognizing the many ways we are unlovable, descend into the depths of our being until we come to the fundamental reality in us, and learn to see that we are lovable after all, in spite of everything!
The theological virtues, just like anything else, must be practiced. Where should we begin that practice? Everywhere. As Seneca stressed, “Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.”
In his short book The Way to Love, the psychologist and theologian Anthony de Mello wrote, “If it is love that you truly desire then set out at once on the task of seeing….” As you do, the hard protective shell around your heart will soften and melt and your heart will come alive in sensitivity and responsiveness.
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Thank you for reading; I hope you found something useful.
Until next time, be wise and be well,
P.S. As always, feel free to comment or ask questions.
This is an outstanding article. It touches on so many of the really important aspects of being human and of the human dilemmas that all of us face. Thank you so much for writing it and for sending it!