Virtue in Heaven: Virtue is our superpower

There is a bond of unity between all faiths and cultures that is the foundation of our faith and the key to our happiness.

Virtues are generally considered to be the qualities of the soul and character that determine our destiny. Our faith, hope, love, and resolve are the direction and fruit of our spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23).

I recently received a wonderful gift from my granddaughter in Australia – a large print Bible that I can read! I decided to start from the beginning and re-read the Bible while applying the Ignatian practices I learned from the Jesuit priests and sisters with whom I had the privilege of studying and sharing. They have an exercise where one places themselves in a biblical story and personally reflects on its meaning in their lives. For example, reading the story of Lot and his wife, God instructs them not to look back at the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah that were about to be destroyed. Lot’s wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. This story taught me, “Don’t look back at things that make you regret or feel guilty, they will take away your hope. Look forward and follow the path God is leading you on now, step by step.”

The virtue of obedience to the Divine Will and of remaining optimistic and trustful of the future that the Creator has planned for us is the antidote to depression and regret. Dwelling on unhappy things in the past does us no good. Guilt should only be a sign to change and learn, not a way to live! Whenever we make a mistake, the wisest thing to do is to admit it, correct it, make amends to those we may have hurt, and then move on. Learning from our mistakes is a major part of our soul’s work in this world. “Life is not an art gallery, but a studio,” says the Baha’i Writings. “I have arranged every atom to train you.”

The bottom line is, we are here to learn and grow. So if you find that guilt is holding you back, choose a new way to live, one that is based on your superpower. We can rely on God for forgiveness, but often find we are unable to forgive ourselves, even for small mistakes.

I had an educational opportunity today when I was listening to a mental health and wellbeing client in Aitutaki, as I often do. My husband Dan and I are mentoring a young woman with mental health issues and multiple disabilities to publish her first book. The book will also contain art and photography, which she is very good at. While most of the passages in her poetry collection are wonderful, there was one passage that needed quite a bit of editing. I acknowledged her frankness and flexibility in taking constructive criticism, saying, “I can be very humble when I need to be.” We both laughed at her “bragging” about her humbleness, and I said, “Well, I’m one of the most humble people I know,” and we laughed even louder.

The Bible is a profound inspiration to us when we make it our own and use it to cultivate virtue, which is how we reflect the image and likeness of God.