Tuesday, September 1, 2015

September 1, 2015 - along the Way ...

I have now completed the third room with laminate flooring in our home, for which I am very thankful.   As we enter into a new month, I will continue to consider the "Seven Deadly Sins" and their accompanying virtues.   For this week we will consider "envy".

Envy is not simply desiring what another has, but envy actually resents the other person for having it.
It is sort of the idea that if I cannot have it, then you should not have it either.   Envy is common in our world today.

How many times do we find ourselves desiring something someone else has, and then becoming resentful?   In our resentment, we want the other to be deprived as we are.

Envy is very dangerous.  It begins with misdirected desire, and can lead to some awful things, even murder.

So if envy is misdirected desire and resentment, then what is the accompanying virtue?

Kindness is the opposite of envy.   Kindness wants what is best for everyone.   Kindness appreciates the belongings of another, and is happy to see it bring them happiness.   Kindness looks for ways to bless rather than curse.   In this way it is the opposite of envy and resentment.

Now, as you think about your week, are there opportunities where you can let kindness lead?   Also, if you feel envy and resentment cropping up from within, will you stop them in their tracks and choose to think kind thoughts instead?  

Developing virtue requires effort.   It requires reliance on God in prayer, and it requires us to be attuned to our own souls so that we can weed out envy and cultivate kindness.

So what about you?  How do you cultivate kindness?  I invite you to share your thoughts and ideas as we journey together along the Way ...

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