No matter what transpires;
whether good or bad,
death or celebration,
we must always look back
and find the way
in which we are to be grateful.
Showing posts with label Sunday Wisdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sunday Wisdom. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Sunday Wisdom
It is a great error that we perceive happiness as a thunderous flash of excitement. Our search for that flash blinds us from seeing happiness present in every moment.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Sunday Reflection
"For to be free is not to merely cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." -- Nelson Mandela
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
What is Wisdom?
Why might the search for Wisdom trump the search for Happiness?
(Published on July 19, 2011 by Michael W. Austin in "Ethics for Everyone")
In our search for happiness, we often forget a crucial element. This forgotten element is the virtue of wisdom. This is not a trait we discuss much, perhaps because we are skeptical that there is such a thing as true wisdom. However, I believe that wisdom is a genuine virtue worth pursuing. If we think of happiness not as merely getting what we want, but rather as being a certain sort of person, then we must pursue wisdom.
But what is wisdom?
First, the wise person has good understanding and possesses a good dose of common sense. She knows and understands some of the deeper truths about life. For example, she is able to apply an understanding of the connections between virtue and happiness to her everyday life of relationships, finances, and the use of her time.
Second, the wise person is able to discern right and wrong. Wisdom, that is, includes the ability to make sound moral judgments. In our world, people give up wisdom to get power, pleasure, fame, and wealth (if you doubt this, watch almost any reality television show!). The better course of action, however, is to give up these things to get wisdom, if need be.
Third, a wise person is curious. She has a sincere desire to understand. Young children display this as they incessantly ask "Why?" At some point, our thirst for understanding leaves us, perhaps because of how we are educated. At any rate, the wise person recaptures this thirst.
Fourth, a wise person is versatile. She has an active interest in many different subjects, rather than a narrow focus on one or two topics. Malcolm X was an example of this. When he was imprisoned, he decided to use his time to learn. His lack of education was a barrier, but rather than giving up he worked hard to overcome it by reading the dictionary from A to Z! He then read all of the books in the prison library on a wide variety of subjects, including history, science, literature, philosophy, psychology, and theology. He subsequently became a leader in the Civil Rights movement and lectured at Ivy League universities.
Finally, the wise person is a good critical thinker. She has and exercises the capacity to tell truth from falsehood by identifying flaws in reasoning, good arguments from bad ones, and by continually asking "Why believe that?" By identifying assumptions behind arguments and perspectives, she is able to evaluate her beliefs and the beliefs of others in her quest for truth. And in the search for true happiness, for deep inner fulfillment and harmony, the knowledge and application of truth to life is essential.
(Published on July 19, 2011 by Michael W. Austin in "Ethics for Everyone")
In our search for happiness, we often forget a crucial element. This forgotten element is the virtue of wisdom. This is not a trait we discuss much, perhaps because we are skeptical that there is such a thing as true wisdom. However, I believe that wisdom is a genuine virtue worth pursuing. If we think of happiness not as merely getting what we want, but rather as being a certain sort of person, then we must pursue wisdom.
But what is wisdom?
First, the wise person has good understanding and possesses a good dose of common sense. She knows and understands some of the deeper truths about life. For example, she is able to apply an understanding of the connections between virtue and happiness to her everyday life of relationships, finances, and the use of her time.
Second, the wise person is able to discern right and wrong. Wisdom, that is, includes the ability to make sound moral judgments. In our world, people give up wisdom to get power, pleasure, fame, and wealth (if you doubt this, watch almost any reality television show!). The better course of action, however, is to give up these things to get wisdom, if need be.
Third, a wise person is curious. She has a sincere desire to understand. Young children display this as they incessantly ask "Why?" At some point, our thirst for understanding leaves us, perhaps because of how we are educated. At any rate, the wise person recaptures this thirst.
Fourth, a wise person is versatile. She has an active interest in many different subjects, rather than a narrow focus on one or two topics. Malcolm X was an example of this. When he was imprisoned, he decided to use his time to learn. His lack of education was a barrier, but rather than giving up he worked hard to overcome it by reading the dictionary from A to Z! He then read all of the books in the prison library on a wide variety of subjects, including history, science, literature, philosophy, psychology, and theology. He subsequently became a leader in the Civil Rights movement and lectured at Ivy League universities.
Finally, the wise person is a good critical thinker. She has and exercises the capacity to tell truth from falsehood by identifying flaws in reasoning, good arguments from bad ones, and by continually asking "Why believe that?" By identifying assumptions behind arguments and perspectives, she is able to evaluate her beliefs and the beliefs of others in her quest for truth. And in the search for true happiness, for deep inner fulfillment and harmony, the knowledge and application of truth to life is essential.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Sunday Meditation
Some call it God,
Some call it Karma,
Some know it as the Greater Good.
But all are in agreement that this world follows
an unspoken rule that all things are done for the greater sense of goodness.
Some call it Karma,
Some know it as the Greater Good.
But all are in agreement that this world follows
an unspoken rule that all things are done for the greater sense of goodness.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Sunday Reflection
All mankind is on a quest for the validation of self-worth. It is a quest to be loved, remembered, and a quest to be declared correct.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Sunday Reflection
"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier" -- Mother Theresa
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Sunday Reflection
When will the churches learn that intolerance, personal or ecclesiastical, is an evidence of weakness? The confident can afford to be calm and kindly; only the fearful must defame and exclude. --- Harry Emerson Fosdick
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sunday Wisdom for Easter
Sunday Wisdom for Easter:
[1] The challenge of life isn't to be perfect, it's to be whole.
[2] Everyone dies, but not everyone lives.
[3] God gives us the tumult so we can get over it ourselves, not so He can fix everything for us.
[4] "In 3 words, I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on."
-- Robert Frost
[1] The challenge of life isn't to be perfect, it's to be whole.
[2] Everyone dies, but not everyone lives.
[3] God gives us the tumult so we can get over it ourselves, not so He can fix everything for us.
[4] "In 3 words, I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on."
-- Robert Frost
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Sunday Meditations
Possibly the Ultimate Lesson of Life
Click above if you'd like to find out why this was re-posted for Sunday!
Click above if you'd like to find out why this was re-posted for Sunday!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Sunday Reflection
Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb trees, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid. [Albert Einstein]
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Sunday Meditations
The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us. [Voltaire]
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Sunday Reflection
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
-- Maya Angelou
-- Maya Angelou
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday Reflections
Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.
-- Rumi
-- Rumi
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Sunday Reflections
The promises of this world are, for the most part, vain phantoms; and to confide in one's self and become something of value is the best and safest course. -- Michelangelo
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Sunday Wisdom
Anger is often least useful when given words.
It may be a short and sweet little phrase, but it goes deeper than many believe.
Take the day to ponder not only how you manifest anger, but also how words can do damage.
It may be a short and sweet little phrase, but it goes deeper than many believe.
Take the day to ponder not only how you manifest anger, but also how words can do damage.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Sunday Wisdom
In every situation, there is always a reason for celebration. If you can't find a reason to celebrate, you're grieving; and most of us have nothing to grieve.
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