15 May 2026

 

Your Legacy … What Will It Be ?

Here are some questions for all of us to ponder:

• When other people mention your name, what qualities of mind, soul and heart do they think of?
• What reputation have you created during your lifetime?
• What will people say about you when you are deceased?
• For that matter, what do they say about you now?

To some folks, these questions may seem impertinent, even morose. But as I have aged, these issues assume increasing relevance.

As I have aged, I’ve learned that each day is indeed a lifetime. I’ve also learned that life is not a neutral experience. We have endless opportunities to choose Goodness … or the lack thereof. It is people who make it so.

I’ve also learned that most people do not know nor understand one another well enough to make informed judgments, nor do we customarily trust one another with intimate details about our vulnerabilities and failings. As a result, many of us are labeled with the first impression we make on other people, who assume we are as we first appear.

So, our knowledge of one another is slight. In addition, many people do not even know themselves very well because most of us are programmed into denial by childhood’s silly fallacies and selfish whims. As young children, we soon learn to avoid taunts and truths which bruise our ego.

As years pass, many adults continue to skim along life’s surface like skaters in winter, never facing the depth of need - nor the wealth of meaning - within our souls. Many of us yearn to be listened to and to be heard, but we also fear being known. Soon, we become strangers to ourselves, and maturity eludes us.

For Starters, Faith

The Universe in which we live is incomprehensible. Some people think science and technology have conquered the hidden forces which exist everywhere in Creation. Not so; we are faced with constant mysteries, such as dark matter, dark energy, the red shift, competing forces of gravity which hold the Universe together yet create unimaginable distances, the notions of time and space, on and on. Mystery abounds.

Still, we put great faith in science and technology, and rightly so. Faith is essential in our daily routines, indeed for our very survival. Many times each day, we place our faith in people we’ve never met nor seen (e.g., drivers on the freeway, mechanics who fix our cars). Each day, without conscious deliberation, we make endless acts of faith in the character and judgment of others.

Faith Is A Necessity

So, it is clear that implicit faith in - and reliance on - other people (usually folks we never see) is essential … BUT … this does not mean we grant them our trust. No way; giving and receiving trust is an entirely different category.

Trust involves knowing and accepting vulnerabilities and, sometimes, forgiveness for our foibles. But we rarely take the risk to share our vulnerabilities with anyone. We rarely reveal our deepest selves to others because we pay a price for trusting the wrong people.

For example, many marriages fail because partners have not matured sufficiently to manage the demands of Intimacy and recognize the cautionary dictates of Wisdom which are the true foundations of Matrimony. One reason is that sex is too often mistaken for Intimacy, a common error oft repeated in our misguided world.

Faith And Heart

So, repeated acts of faith are fundamental in human affairs. Since this is so, we may logically conclude that the Mystery of Creation requires both faith in science and religious Faith to make sense. Even if some folks have a problem with God and ignore His right to primacy in our lives, Creation deserves the clarity of Faith.

Thus, when we consider the Mystery of Creation, Faith grants us logical clarity and common sense to realize that God, our Creator, oversees our lives in ways which exemplify and reveal His infinite concern.

It’s true that God’s ways are mysterious. Yet Faith renders God eminently reasonable to the heart and mind. Why?

Because God created the human heart to love and to be loved. This is a Truth about human nature which is freely given to us in the Love and Humility which Christ urges upon us … and which He modeled in His own life.

The cumulative evidence supporting this Divine message is overwhelmingly persuasive. It is a Truth graced with trustworthy simplicity and unfeigned intimacy which lovers learn to share.

Believe It

Our Creator’s will for us is often distorted. Yet God’s purposes are clearly spelled out for us in the Christian Virtues, which are intended to guide our behavior toward God and one another. The Christian Virtues (Faith, Hope, True Love, Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance) are the very core of the Good Life. They make God’s messages of Kindness and Goodness eminently clear and socially valuable … if we would only listen and hear - and learn to keep our raging egos in balance.

Christ urges us to believe that God’s Love and Care are ever-present to us … if we would listen and hear. His message is sometimes obscured by our clouded egos and cluttered minds. We may have to look beyond doubts and pain as they assail us, but His message – namely, that we are born to love God and one another - is constant and consistent.

God’s Love for us should create within us a grateful heart as we learn to accept the fact that we are enfolded in the exquisite Mystery of Creation.

And … let us never forget that Love and Forgiveness of one another are central to God’s message. It is Love - properly given and received - that ennobles the heart and saves the soul.

Finally

How does all this relate to our legacy and how we will be remembered by one another?

I can, of course, speak only for myself, but when I am deceased, it would suffice if (1) I am remembered as having written these words and (2) remembered as striving to live them. It would be gratifying if someone said of me:

 

29 Apr 2026

 

Our Search For Meaning

We are all prone to error and self-indulgent moments, yet we all have within us the sources of Goodness and Virtue. Some of us react to life’s unpredictable vagaries with admirable patience. Others react with self-righteous indignation, especially when they do not get their way. With dramatic flair, disgruntled persons even reject God whom they blame. But their rejection of our Creator has considerable side effects, and we all pay a price for their self-righteous puffery… as we shall explore.

For starters, we are all on a personal Search for meaning beyond our everyday experience. We wonder: “What’s it all about?” Many of us ask God to give us a sign of His care. There’s nothing wrong with asking … except God doesn’t ordinarily work that way.

Hope and Good Will keep us going. Eventually, our Search becomes our prayer of simplicity and gratitude which every honest person utters in one fashion or another, as long as our Hope and our Good Will remain untarnished.

To Search Is Human

So, when self-righteous persons abandon God, they miss the point that our universal Search for meaning actually defines human nature. And, when we’re Faithful, our Search elicits humanity’s most noble traits … which we call the Virtues.

However, when self-righteous people deliberately remove God from their Search, sterility of soul ensues. Unsavory instincts are unleashed, including anger and violence (however muted or disguised) in thought, speech and behavior. Wayward pride ascends. The Virtues of Faith, Hope, Charity, Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance are forgotten. All that matters is to satisfy their unruly egos. Of course, denial of Truth becomes a regular habit … and that’s a horrid way to live.

Denial Of Meaning

Self-righteous persons who reject God pay a dehumanizing price, and so do the rest of us (although they deny that, too). They are quick to defend their position: “Why should I believe in God? Why should I believe in Jesus or worry about Virtue? My will be done”

• After all, they argue, Jesus made the outrageous claim He was God, that His Life explained suffering and loss.


• After all, they argue, it was Christ Who confronted the ruling class and angered them to the point that they put Him to death. Does not this denote madness?


• Why, they argue, follow such a Man? Why imitate Him as a Model for individuals and even for entire societies?


• Why, they argue, should we want a relationship with Him when so many of His followers prove their weaknesses time after time … and He does nothing?

The Cost

In practice, these self-righteous persons believe nothing matters except satisfying their egos. “Get what you want and do as you please; that’s what counts.”

In time, they sever communication with their critics, which isolates them in unhealthy ways from the responsibilities and restraints of Truth. Further repellent traits soon appear. Examples:

• They become immune to expressions of Good Will and eschew civilized discourse.


• They avoid reasoned communication as their irrational thinking prevails; civility and factual dialogue fade.


• They make accusations which have no basis in reality.


• They refuse to take responsibility for their behavior, as mature adults do.


• Their sense of righteousness dominates.

The Voice Of Reason

One major flaw in such distorted thinking is that it leads directly to selfish chaos and distrust.

Living a life of Virtue is admittedly tough … BUT it is the most reasonable way to live. It’s rational to strive for Virtue in everyday life because the outcomes of Virtue make eminent sense to individuals and to the culture, too. A few examples:

• It is reasonable to be Kind and Gentle with one another, to listen to others, to wait before acting.


• It is logical to be Patient when we are angry with children or, for that matter, upset with one another.


• It is rational for society to balance Mercy with Justice.


• It makes sense for everyone to exercise Temperance in our use of drugs and alcohol.


• Everyone benefits (family, friends, strangers, society) when we persevere with Fortitude and respect Truth over our own agenda.


• And where would we be as a nation without Patriots?

Maturity means we are aware of our ego’s impulses and do not give in to them. We face the Truth about ourselves and one another. This is Humility, which means that our thinking and behavior are rooted in the earth - the soil - of reality, of Truth.

Furthermore, Humility requires growth in Prudence, i.e., in sound moral judgment about our behavior … and we use Self-restraint instead of indulging our ego’s wayward urges. The need for Self-restraint introduces the virtue of Temperance and gives us moral strength to avoid whatever distorts Truth, be it booze or drugs, narcissism or ego's self-righteous impulsivities.

As time passes, the practical value of the Virtues as a lifestyle becomes apparent as we grow in Wisdom in our Search. Wisdom inclines us to seek the genuine intimacy of a solid relationship rather than the distracting superficialities of our cell-phone culture.

A relationship of true value is rare because it involves the Virtue of Trust, and Trust always involves risk. Relationships differ according to the depth of Trust and Intimacy. Trust and Intimacy rest upon awareness of, and respect for, willingly shared vulnerabilities.

Trust and Intimacy are supposed to be binding forces in every solid family wherein unity prevails and the Virtues are taught by word and example, especially Christian Virtues of Responsibility and Accountability, Empathy, Altruism, Benign Confrontation, Patience, Humility, Prudence, Fortitude, on and on.

What’s The Point ?

The point is this: Christian Virtues are an indisputable response to our Search for meaning in life on a practical, everyday basis.

The Virtues exist, first and foremost, within a relationship by which we approach God through Christ. In brief, we find God through our relationship with Jesus, Who becomes for us a real Person, not some historic figure obscured in the mists of myth.

Like all authentic relationships, our relationship with Christ is an interactive, two-way, here-and-now friendship. There is abundant evidence that Jesus spelled out His willingness to uphold His side of the friendship … even when we do not.

Jesus constantly holds out His hand, seeking our cooperation, asking us to uphold our side of the friendship. He offers us many assists to uphold our side, such as the Catholic Sacraments, a slew of documented miracles, centuries of Church teachings, a world filled with Creation’s Beauty, the Love and support of solid family life … and so on.  

BUT ..... we are still human, not divine. Jesus has the benefit of both a human nature and divine nature; we do not. So, we are blessed with the graces of our Faith, yet burdened by the anchors of our humanity. We lug around the good and the not-so-good, but that’s life … and that’s why we need His friendship.

A Friend Indeed

The saving part of this reality is that Jesus understands the burden we carry, the distractions and weariness and nagging doubts, the spiritual burnout we undergo. Happily, His constant response is to hang onto us as our Eternal Friend, to be with us, to uphold us, to be always our dedicated friend.  

Our relationship with Him has constant stability because He is the driving force in it, not us. Even when we doubt ourselves, even when we waver and falter, even when we are emotionally and spiritually drained, He is constant and steady and trustworthy. His word is a given, His friendship everlasting. He is here … now. Nothing is more powerful or more enduring than His desire to uphold us in this friendship.

Thus, Wisdom and all the Virtues urge us to keep going forward and to endure … as He did in His last hours. Thus, too, does our Search for meaning naturally bring us to the practical value of the Virtues and their value to the everyday business of living.

Finally . . .

To the agnostic, the skeptic and the self-righteous person, this may all seem a stretch. To them, being a believing Christian and a person of Virtue does not come naturally. But being a person of Faith is an achievement of value and dignity because it is an act of the will by which we persevere in our Search for meaning and for a Divine friendship well worth our lives.  

So, as friends of Jesus, must we still go through the darkness of our doubts and the absence of rewards? Of course, the answer is, “Yes, we do.” Just as Jesus did, so also must we follow His path.

On His path we find the Virtues.

On His path we find The Way.

On His path, our Search makes sense because we also find ourselves.

God's ways are not our ways, but we grow in our awareness of our closeness to God when we awaken to the fact that Jesus has trod this path before us and He now leads us in our Search with a steady, kindly hand.  

Let us walk with Him. He knows The Way.

 

19 Apr 2026

 

To Be A Good Person

Being a Good Person is a challenge to us all. We face the nagging dilemma of being a trustworthy individual for others. At the same instant, who can trust us?

We all experience suffering and rejection, loneliness and disappointment. Misfortune is inherent to our human condition. We also value Kindness and Love, which are inherent needs in human nature, God-given traits we all possess. But (like it or not) we’re also bound by human and Divine laws to exercise self-control so that we do not seek Love in loveless or injurious ways. So, seeking Goodness seems reasonable, if not quick and easy.

Thus, we gingerly juggle the tugs of temptation and urges to Kindness. Experience tells us that many people live only to satisfy their selfish egos. Others live a self-less life; Kindness enlivens their life’s purpose.

What makes the difference? Skeptics view Kindness as slight indication of God in our lives. Contrarily, I believe God inspires Kindness and acts of Goodness. I see Kindness as unmistakable evidence that God is alive and well in human affairs.

Proof ?

Some people ask: “How do we know? What proof do we have?” They insist that God is secretive, silent to our ears, without emotional consolation. So, why believe God is active in our lives?

I believe because God makes it clear Who and What He is through the massive evidence of Creation. Creation (including us) is His persuasive proof. The ordinary things of living are truly extraordinary in nature and origin, if we will only see the obvious. Our humanity - flawed as we are - is proof of God’s infinite Being, and His personal attention to each of us. Furthermore, I believe our Kindness to one another demonstrates to us that God works in normal, everyday ways, not in flamboyant displays.

Some people take it personally that God does not behave as they want. God does not give them emotional security nor assure them that they’re on the right track, nor does He ease their doubts. God’s Ways often involve loss and nagging doubts, emotional and physical pain. His Ways are often frightening, ambiguous, a challenge to our Trust; hardly what one expects from a Loving God. Even His Son wished Him otherwise – for a time.

But … the message we receive is that we must face challenges and, despite the cost, hold onto our Trust. To me, the point is clear: our wonderment about God, our doubts and our spiritual dryness are never out of the care of our Loving God.

A good model for us is Mother Teresa, who spent her religious life plagued with doubts. Her "secret" was her Perseverance. Even when she was riddled for decades with the deepest doubts about God's existence and Love for her, she Persevered.

So must we! That is the point of living: Persevere and Trust …..

Faith, Not Feelings

Faith tells us that - in terms known to God alone - we are ever in His keeping at all times:

• Even when He is silent on our terms;
• Even when we are plagued with doubts;
• Even when we are burdened with mean, angry thoughts;
• Even when weariness hovers heavily and sprinkles us with travail and negativity.
• The message is for us to Persevere and to Trust, no matter what happens.

Faith insists all this is true, even when God is silent and we yearn for consolation. Therefore, we are wise to remember that the silence of God is what we hear when He listens. God listens to us in ways deeper than our words or needs will ever comprehend.  

Still, our Faith can be sorely tested; we are often side-tracked by doubt and emptiness. We may feel battered. Our darkened feelings can cast lengthy shadows over our Faith and Trust. And when clarity is weakened, deeper doubts may creep in.

Our doubts might delude us into the erroneous belief that how we feel dictates who we are in God’s eyes. Doubts may compromise our Faith and becloud the fact that the Love of God for each of us is Eternal.

What is our best response?

Trust and Perseverance! Perseverance and Trust! Our Faith and our Trust, our Hope and our commitment to Kindness must endure, even if they exist side-by-side with our doubt and our hurt. Perseverance and Trust…

Truths To Remember

So, let us ever remember a fundamental Truth about our human condition … a Truth which many people forget:

We possess the dual reality of our limited human selves whilst we are striving for the Divine. Thus, it is our intentions - not our feelings - which are always the hallmark of our state in life.

Our feelings may mislead us, but our intentions are declarations of our choices. Our intentions inspire our behavior. Our intentions are the primary factor in our choices and our subsequent actions. Our intentions are paramount, not our feelings.

That’s why our intentions to Persevere and to Trust are essential in our choice to Trust God, even when we feel otherwise.

It is also valuable to remember that Perseverance in doubt is an act of Humility, and Humility is the beginning of Wisdom.

Wisdom recognizes that our struggle to approach God is best realized with Christ as our guide. We relate best to God through Jesus.

Like all authentic relationships, our relationship with Christ is an interactive, two-way friendship. Jesus spelled out His willingness to uphold His side of the friendship. He constantly holds out His hand to us, seeking our cooperation, asking us to uphold our side of the friendship. BUT we’re still human, still prone to error and doubt, which is all the more reason to take His Hand with gratitude and delight … and Persevere in Trust.

The Value Of Our Relationship

So, we are both blessed and burdened with the graces of Faith and the anchors of humanity. We lug around with us the good and the not-so-good. The saving part of this reality is that Jesus understands the burden of human nature which we carry … the distractions and weariness and nagging doubts and stresses and the spiritual burnout we undergo. 

Happily, His constant response to our humanity is to hang onto us, to be with us as our permanent friend. Our relationship with Him has a constant basis because He is the driving force in it. Even when we doubt both ourselves and God, even when we waver and become emotionally drained, He is always steady and trustworthy. His word is a given, His friendship constant. He understands -- and so must we -- that our intentions define us. Even in His last hours, as you recall, He asked His Father to let Him out of what was ahead of Him. But after expressing His doubt, He added that single phrase which still rings through Christian history: "Not my will, but thine be done."  

So, as friends of Jesus, do we still have to go through doubt and uncertainty and lack of clarity? Of course, the answer is, "Yes, we do. Just as Jesus did in His life, so must we follow His path." 

Finally . . .

I believe experiences of value are present in every measure of pain and aloneness, in every test of our Trust, in every challenge to our Faith, and surely in our intentions to Perseverance. In this fashion, we understand what St. Paul meant when he said that our weakness is our strength.  

Perseverance is our gift and our heritage. Let us Persevere during our doubts and ambiguity. Let us see that our doubts are indeed steps toward a deeper relationship; invitations to stay the course of Faith and Trust during dark nights of our soul.

Let us realize that our best choice is to allow God to have His way with us, and for us to accept the fact that our doubts are indeed our path to clarity and our doorway to peace.  

For some people, these Truths make no sense at all, while others gladly Persevere. Eventually, as we seek the help of Jesus, Wisdom and Discernment enlighten us. We begin to see more clearly what is obvious, namely, that Perseverance and Trust are fundamental in our friendship with God.  

We grow in our closeness to God when we realize that Jesus has deliberately trod the painful path before us and now supports us with His steady, kindly hand. And we realize God speaks not with a storm but with the soft and gentle breezes of Wisdom’s insights.  

There is much saving clarity in these Truths, but if these ideas raise questions, I welcome any comments you wish to make.

In the meanwhile, let us Persevere.  

 

7 Apr 2026

 

The Wages Of The Poetic

When my college friends and I felt the call to rowdiness, we’d amble down to the local pub which catered to undergraduate tomfoolery. Over tankards of draft, we indulged our witless activities, and proclaimed the following ditty, written by Henry Aldrich, a 17th century Oxford professor:

If all be true that I do think,
There are five reasons we should drink:
A friend, good wine, or being dry,
Or lest we should be by and by,
Or any other reason why.

Our college years were not entirely wasted. We learned that all life in the Universe communicates in some fashion. Puppies, petunias and, of course, mankind all have a unique system of communicating. This is especially true of humans: We cannot NOT communicate in many forms, such as literal and figurative language, symbols, images … on and on.

Eventually, we learned to appreciate language and its various uses -- metaphor, analogy, simile, myth, abstraction, local dialects and the endless forms by which people communicate.

We also learned that it takes decades to realize how few of us express ourselves objectively, how self-centered we become as we define reality only as we see it, how few people develop the traits of altruism and empathy, sure signs of adult maturity.

Uses Of Language

We learned that human communication centers around words and non-verbal actions; speaking, writing, reading and behavior are our tools. In our early grades, we learn to read. After we learn to read, then we read to learn … and we also read the behavior of others (both individuals and nations). Sometimes we say what we do not believe, but our behavior subtly contradicts our words. Observant people believe our actions, not our words. Why? Because behavior reveals intention.

Language offers all sorts of literary devices to convey or conceal one’s perceptions and one’s grasp of truth. Saint Augustine, for example, finally realized that even Scripture makes constant use of figures of speech, such as metaphors, analogies, myths and other expressive devices. Augustine admitted that, when he was young and read Scripture literally, he laughed at Christians because his arrogant ego blinded him to the richness of Biblical language and imagery; he missed the Message. He wrote: “My inflated pride shunned their style, nor could the sharpness of my wit pierce their inner meaning.”

Think about it: the styles and usages of language are endless. Twain and Chesterton, Kafka and Kierkegaard, Shakespeare and Winchell, Dante and Keats, Saints John and Paul all have their manner of sharing a vision of reality, of nudging us into their world, of sharing their views of our human condition, as we all do.

The message is clear: in the metaphors, images, myths and so on that our language uses extensively, we will find Truths which lead us to clarity … and profound gratitude.

Mysteries And The Poetic

As we strive for precision in our communication, we’ll admit (if we’re honest) that the wonders of Creation are utterly mysterious to us all. Once we get past the urge to have our egos assuaged and we settle down into a reflective mood, we realize the Mysteries of Creation are truly beyond our grasp, beyond our comprehension, logic and reason. And we realize that ordinary language is not sufficient to depict Creation’s Mysteries. In our efforts to convey our perceptions of these Mysteries, we soon find our everyday words inadequate; our literal language comes up short.

We then have recourse to an inner, deeper power – an inner ability beyond the vocabularies of logic and reason. This inner power is our gift of seeing or, better, of sensing and intuiting the Mysteries which underlie all reality, including ourselves.

This power is the gift of our poetic insight.

Our Poetic Powers

The word “poetic” comes from the ancient Greek word “poiesis” which refers to the process of bringing something into existence through imaginative, artistic, or intellectual efforts. The poetic process - poiesis - refers to the creative development of human knowledge and understanding, and is not limited merely to poetry.

Our poetic insight stimulates and enlivens our ability to perceive the Wonder and Beauty of Creation (both Divine and human). Poiesis lead us to understanding and insight beyond logic and reason through the gift of intuitive enlightenment which resides in our spiritual selves, in our soul. Our poetic sensibilities are, of course, sometimes expressed in the lyrical words of poetry and songs, but it is surely not confined to poems or rhymes.

In this expanded sense, our poetic powers extend into much human activity, such as medicine, literature, art, theology, music, architecture. For example, the art and science of medicine use extensive poetic language to describe the body’s creative processes.

Language Of The Spirit

Everyone instinctively seeks to understand the Mysteries of life and Creation. We want to know what life is all about. We seek truth. However, when religion employs poetic inspiration, problems predictably arise.

Professor Randall Smith points out that some people who are successful in other fields often judge religious attitudes as bizarre, even childish, “acceptable only to unsophisticated people who believe whatever they’re told, no matter how ridiculous.”

Skeptical critics also view the poetic language of Scripture as off-putting to sophisticated adults in today’s world of instant communication and constant data flow. Rarely do we ask ourselves: “What’s really happening here? What are the moral and spiritual outcomes of “progress” on me or my children?

So, while scoffers disparage realities which are not to their liking, the poetics of religion (call it the language of the Spirit) reveals that these realities really can’t be adequately expressed in ordinary, literal terms. Prof. Smith notes that some truths “transcend our normal, everyday ways of speaking and require a different mode of discourse.”

We normally read, listen and comprehend with our mind. Our mind is a grand gift which we constantly use, but the mind can also be prone to misunderstanding and error. Our intellect can mislead us, distort truth, exaggerate what we hear, lead us into needless conflicts, and an over-stuffed ego ignores most truths.

Poetics embraces a different form of reality than the mind allows. Why? Because poetics involves the language of the Heart and Soul as well as the language of the Spirit. It is the language of Faith, the complement to the gift of our free will.

Poetics reads, listens, comprehends and communicates truths which transcend our usual ways of communicating. It is here that the language of Faith transcends the insights of ordinary discourse and everyday usage. And it is here that we also begin to recognize God’s enormous gift of our Redemption.

Finally . . .

Skeptics find the language of Scripture and our words of worship foolish (as did St. Augustine). The Christian belief that God became a Man Who suffered death for each of us is absurd to the unbeliever. Skeptics may dismiss the endless list of documented miracles (e.g, Fatima, Lourdes) as the raving of hysterics. Indeed, many people doubt the validity of Redemption and the inherent value of the poetic language of the Spirit.

Poetics - the language of the Heart, the Soul and the Spirit - is a gift from our Creator to each of us. It is a gift given to us so that we may choose to respect and respond to God’s Eternal Mysteries which constantly abound around us – and within us.

Poetics and the life of prayer it spawns are both meant to ease our path to Heaven. These gifts are given to us so that we may realize that our Earth and our life are meant to be our stepping stones to a far greater Reality than our mind’s imagining alone will ever reveal to us … and poetics makes it so.

Should we not be most grateful …. eternally grateful?

 

20 Mar 2026

 

Artificial Intelligence - A Better Me ?

Our society is comfy with abbreviations – sometimes to confusion. For example, those of us who are technically slow may not know that the abbreviation “AI” stands for Artificial Intelligence.

What is AI … Artificial Intelligence?

• Artificial Intelligence is a human system which receives new data not previously programmed into it by human regulators.
• Once that system receives new data, it somehow “learns” from that information on its own and makes changes based on that new data.
• In other words, the system is pre-programmed to adapt itself to entirely new situations. Based on previous instructions, it “responds” to new data and makes changes accordingly.

AI programs bestow the ability to interpret, change and adapt to incoming challenges. This ability is pre-programmed into the system, thus mimicking human intelligence. Some adaptive mechanisms are astonishing, complex and confounding.

AI is everywhere: “self-driving” cars, tennis-playing robots, the power to edit and re-write your computer documents, special effects in movies. AI abounds in education and corporations, even in pornography’s corrupting displays.

AI is growing in ways which please many folks but upset others who, wisely, fear a machine-dominated future … those who are wise to the dangers of dehumanization and, with it, the continuing eclipse of moral acuity in human nature.

Cautions

Let us remember that AI is an “artificial” construct; people are initially in charge. This means our legitimate concerns about AI’s potentially destructive impact on our culture do not rest solely on its technological power. After all, AI depends on humans for its furtherance. It is the human element about which we should all be concerned.

• It is the human agents who possess the knowledge and savvy to put AI into our lives and, by doing so, to radically transform our culture – for better or worse.
• It is those human beings who have the power to control AI to serve humanity or to enslave us.

If these concerns seem exaggerated, remember the painfully recurring lessons of History and mankind’s readiness to ignore the moral nature and responsibilities of human life.

History’s Truths

The ideas behind today’s AI were present even in the time of Greek civilization. Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire and patron of blacksmiths constructed metal robots to work in his foundry. Our modern form of AI was initiated by cognitive scientist John McCarthy in 1950s and underwent further development in the 70's and 80's. Research now proceeds under the eyes of specialists.

The future of Artificial Intelligence seems unlimited in the lives of everyone --- and this is good reason for our caution. Why? Because humans are in thrall to “technological progress” and its promise of a better life. We tend to trust (often naïvely) those who tell us what we want to hear or what they convince us to desire. In fact, History tells us that whole nations have been seduced by the destructive palaver of reckless leaders who promote practicality and profit over morality and self-sacrifice.

Indeed, in many segments of society, the mention of “morality” is now an archaic remnant of the fact that we are, above all else, moral beings, created by God Who deserves our obedience and honor. We are redeemed Christ, Whose authentic care for us was/is evident in His dying for us.

So, here is the problematic issue: As AI’s benefits are taken for granted, many people forget the moral responsibilities inherent in human nature and forget morality as they buy into the allure of “technological progress.” They accept de-humanization and the eclipse of morality as the price of “advancement.”

Furthermore, AI raises the dreadful specters of Transhumanism and, worse, Posthumanism (explained below). As we consider human nature’s future, we have every reason for concern.

Transhumanism? Posthumanism ?

Transhumanism? Posthumanism? What relevance do these terms have to you or me or any of us?

Let me explain.

Transhumanism is a system of thought and action based on the belief that human beings should use all resources of science and technology to overcome the physical and biological limits which come with human nature.

The practical applications of Transhumanism are many, such as the easing of aging’s costs. But when Transhumanism seeks the end of aging and death, it denies the inevitability of Creation’s limits which human nature inherits.

Transhumanism believes that technological progress is unlimited. It foresees a future when humans will be re-designed for maximum potential. Scientists will develop programs to boost human capacity to exceed the present limits of human nature. We will then achieve technology-supported immortality. In this scenario, the moral principles of human nature are too confining.

But there’s more…

Transhumanism spawns Posthumanism, a vision of humanity in which our present state of existence is inferior.

Posthumanism believes humans will eventually realize that we must exceed the limits of our inherited human nature, must deconstruct ourselves and leap beyond the boundaries which our Creator has set for us. In this vision, the machine is a model for human behavior, unruffled by morality’s boundaries or Nature’s laws, free from God’s demands and from the responsibilities to one another which are essential to human existence.

At the center of all this is a fundamental question: What does it mean to be human?

Fundamental Truth

The Truth is that our human potential is not of our own making. It is a gift, given to us by our Creator. It is obvious that we are created beings, dependent upon our Creator for the benefits of human nature. We are, therefore, wise to remember that our countless gifts have been bestowed upon us by our Creator. To deny this reality is to deny our essential nature.

The dangers in denial are detailed in a new, thought-provoking Vatican document published March 4th. It is titled “Where Is Humanity Going?”

This document warns that rapid technological changes (e.g., Artificial Intelligence, Posthumanist proposals) raise profound questions about the future of humans. The document cautions that such movements contain the risk that we shall (as History attests) again ignore the “integral nature of the human being.” 

The document states the obvious: Human dignity is not something humanity constructs for itself. “To be a human person, with infinite dignity, is not something we have built or acquired,” the document says. “It is the fruit of a gratuitous gift that precedes us.”

The document alerts us to the fact that humanity today faces yet another danger. Modern science and technology yield marvelous outcomes for the human condition. At the same time, these advances reveal our innate human vulnerability, evident in war, illness, famine and countless other ways.

The document states that humanity continues to experience both greatness and fragility. We must not – not - glorify technological power nor must we resign ourselves to our weaknesses. The document clearly states that today’s technological development requires a corresponding growth in moral responsibility:

Finally . . .

As the document urges, we must pay special attention to Transhumanism and Posthumanism, both of which seek technological advances by which certain segments of humanity may try (as History again attests) to radically transform our given human condition through politics, education, etc.

The document reinforces the Christian belief that human life is to be understood and lived as a God-given vocation, i.e., as a calling from God. Human life is a gift we are given, a gift meant to be spent in service to others and, thus, to our Creator. The document puts it this way:

The document also says that the answer to the question, “Where is humanity taking itself” depends on whether we choose to treat our technological progress as our master … or we choose to control it for what it truly is, namely, a tool designed to enhance - but never to replace - the dignity of the human person.

When we consider what is involved, where do we start?

We must start with ourselves. We are given the gift of life by God, with the daily moral responsibilities and daily moral choices which the gift of our lives truly asks of us.

We always have a choice to do what is morally right … and we always have a choice to do what is morally wrong. May we choose what is right. May we choose to accept our dignity and meet our responsibilities to one another, and act as Children of our Creator.

May it be so, and may we so believe …….

 

2 Mar 2026

 

The Wonder Of Creation

Go outdoors some dark, cloudless evening, and look up into the night sky. You’ll see an incalculable number of stars stretching across the darkness. These stars are a small portion of the Milky Way Galaxy. Our Sun is part of the Milky Way. Earth (where we live) is one of the Sun’s satellites.

But many folks ask: What is a galaxy, anyway?

Well, galaxies are huge - huge - collections of stars, planets. nebulae, various gases, space “dust,” dark matter and dark energy. These last two elements are called “dark” because science cannot explain them. We know they exist by their effects.

The Universe - stars and galaxies, seen and unseen, indeed all of Creation - is held together by the force of Gravity, which also keeps us rooted to Earth. In fact, Gravity’s effects exist throughout the Universe. However, astronomers tell us that the Universe is expanding, so the tug of Gravity is not supreme.

Our Milky Way is not, of course, the only galaxy in the Universe. Billions (some say trillions) of galaxies exist, each with its huge collection of stars. To add further Wonder, some astronomers believe our Universe is only one of uncounted Universes.

Our Universe is surely an endless Wonder, teeming with Mystery.

A Brief Look At Galaxies

So, we know that a galaxy is a collection of star “stuff” held together by Gravity. Some traits of galaxies are beyond fascinating. For instance:

• Most galaxies are hundreds of thousands of lightyears wide. What does that mean?
• A “light-year” is the distance light travels in one year.
• The speed of light is about 186,000 miles a second.
• Thus, the distance light covers in a year is about 5.88 trillion miles (give-or-take a few million).

Each galaxy has huge numbers of stars, ranging from a few hundred million to hundreds of billions of stars. Many galaxies (our Milky Way included) also have a huge Black Hole at their center (we will discuss Black Holes another time).

In earlier years, science suggested that the observable Universe might contain at least 100–200 billion galaxies. Recent studies suggest the number is closer to 2 trillion (with a T) galaxies we can observe. But astronomers say even more galaxies exist in the yet-unseen Universe, beyond our present abilities to “see.”

The shape of galaxies varies. Our Milky Way is spiral shaped. This means it possesses young stars still forming (the shape of a galaxy is one way science studies the activities therein).

Another question arises:

• Since galaxies are collections of stars - sometimes millions of stars; and,
• Since billions of galaxies exist (each with uncounted numbers of stars),
• How many stars might exist in the Universe?

How Many Stars ?

It’s a difficult question. British author Ailso Harvey offers some considerations about the number of stars in our Universe. First, what do we mean by "Universe?" Are there definite boundaries to the Universe? Or is it endless, infinite?

Physicist David Kornreich observes that “…we really don't know if the Universe is infinitely large or not." The observable Universe is roughly 13.8 billion years old, but that’s only an estimate. Our notion of “Time” is an arbitrary standard. And, as above, some scientists think we may live in a "multiverse" of Universes.

The answer is complicated by several other factors. For example:

• Some galaxies are better seen in visible light, some in infrared.
• Some of today’s experts now suggest there are about 2 trillion galaxies in the observable Universe, about 10 times more galaxies than previously suggested.
• Another difficulty is that today’s telescopes may not be able to view all the stars in a galaxy.
• Furthermore, dark matter and the rotation of galaxies must be filtered out before making an estimate.
• And remember that (1) the "observable" universe (what we see) is itself expanding, and (2) space-time can curve.

It seems almost naïve to say that difficulties of charting the positions, distances, movements and changes in brightness of stars in just our own Milky Way are daunting. Thus, correctly estimating the number of stars in the Universe is impossible. 

Prof. Kornreich used a very rough estimate of 10 trillion galaxies in the Universe. Multiplying that by the Milky Way's estimated 100 billion stars results in a large number indeed:

1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars (or so). That’s a "1" with 24 zeros after it. But researchers emphasize that Kornreich’s number is probably a gross underestimation. When we ponder all this, Wonder overwhelms. And - mirabile dictu - you and I are part of this wondrous Universe. You and I are given life by our Creator.

Wonder and Mystery do indeed overwhelm.

Creation’s Plan

Science and common sense tell us that something does not come into existence out of nothing. Everything which exists does not just pop into existence. The Universe does not create nor sustain itself … nor do you and I.

Reality and Logic also tell us we are dependent beings. Our very existence insists that we recognize and acknowledge our own Creation, and Wisdom dictates Obedience to our Creator.

Reality also compels us to recognize the differences between the temporal and the eternal, between the finite and the infinite, between the naturally-occurring events in life and supernatural events (e.g., Lourdes, Fatima, et alii) which are meant to sustain our hopes beyond the blunders of our wayward egos and the allure of crass denial to which humanity is ever drawn.

We are blessed by our Creator with our ability to seek and find Goodness … but we also struggle with the dark side of our weak and fragile nature. However, we are given endless reasons for gratitude by these stunning Mysteries of Creation into which we are immersed. And we are given a conscience to repent and amend the mistakes we’ve made. We are blessed with Hope to recover our sense of Gratitude, and to express our fidelity to our Creator’s loving Presence – God, Who forgives our insincerity and upholds us in our struggle to express our Goodness.

We surely know that Goodness is our most desirable goal, but choosing Goodness is also a challenge which never ends. Yes, we are born with the freedom to choose Goodness in our actions and our attitudes. Nonetheless, our darker urge is to deny our moral lapses, to cover our mistakes and to choose an easier way.

Thus, many of us spend our years distractedly, trying to fulfill our ego’s selfish desires. But sooner or later (if we are honest with ourselves) we realize that we are not laws unto ourselves, not totally free from Divine restraints. Like it or not, we are subject to God’s Commandments and to the limits of our created nature.

Our mistakes spring from our own human weaknesses and our self-indulgences … but, hopefully, one day we look candidly beyond ourselves to summon up courage to change what may still be our hurtful ways and seek our Creator’s forgiveness which ever awaits with loving anticipation.

Finally . . .

So, sooner or later - willingly or unwillingly - our minds will hopefully betake us beyond our achievements and distractions. Our self-importance fades as we realize that a thousand years are but a moment in our Creator’s Eternal Now. We realize we are accountable both to God and to others with whom we share the gift of life.

Hopefully, we learn to accept God’s compassion and love, rather than trembling at His imagined vengeance or dismissing Him altogether and ignoring our responsibilities to Him and to one another.

And, hopefully, with Faith renewed, we are evermore grateful for our remaining days, as we begin to appreciate the Grand Mystery of the Universe and the gift of life … especially our own.

 

18 Feb 2026

 

Porn And The Good Life

The word “pornography” derives from descriptions of prostitution on ancient walls. In our “modern” world today, studies tell us that 75% of our children are exposed to porn by the age of seventeen. Many youngsters first view porn between seven and thirteen.

Most children are exposed to porn by accident, which is scathing testament to pornography’s easy availability … and to the moral indifference and psychological ignorance of our culture.

Research also informs us that viewing porn is as harmful to the brain as hard drugs. For many users, addiction to porn in the result, involving (for starters) corruption of the imagination and imagery, disrespect for the dignity of sex, and more - much more.

In addition, addiction to porn pursues some children into their adult years. Addiction to porn has ruined countless marriages with its blatant disregard for the Virtues of Trust, Perseverance and shared Courage which marital fidelity demands. Clearly, pornography is psychologically unhealthy, morally indefensible, potentially addictive, without redeeming value of any sort. No individual soul nor intellect is bettered by porn.

Free Speech ?

Even if we set aside religious and moral considerations, porn is still ruinous for users and for unthinking participants.

One specious argument says porn is “free speech.” This ignores the harm porn does to the mental and moral health of users and to the stability of every community … and to our children.

Underlying “free speech” arguments are the distorted ideas that:

1. “freedom” in human affairs is an end in itself and that law stands apart from the people it supposedly protects;


2. “freedom” may be exercised without considering its deleterious outcomes on individuals and on society;


3. “freedom” requires no limits or restraints on its exercise, even when it harms our children.

Academic Freedom ?

Some professors of “higher education” bestow upon porn the fallacious legitimacy of “academic freedom.” In fact, “academic freedom” is strictly limited within academic fields. College defenders of porn reveal several disturbing factors, including:

1. the hubris of some academics who hold that their specialized knowledge nullifies Common Sense;


2. the absurd belief that “academic freedom” trumps our moral responsibilities to one another;


3. so-called “academic life” is superior to our moral obligations at the core of human nature.

It is crucial to remember that true “freedom” is not our unrestricted right to do as we please when we please. True freedom is the unrestricted right to do what we must do for our moral and social good and that of other persons.

Censorship ?

Censorship is not the issue. Our culture is not best served by canceling unwelcome ideas through the exercise of what may be seen as arbitrary power and control. My concern is the choices people make … choices to improve our culture by improving ourselves.

Thus, we will reject porn in our lives:

• If we are to honor true academic freedom, with its limits of authentic application;


• if we are to honor Gospel mandates;


• if we are to honor the Constitutional intent of “free speech,” with its acknowledged limitations;


• if we are to honor human dignity, starting with our own;


• if we are to honor the sacred nature of sex as the expression of life-long Love and Intimacy of husband and wife.

It is true: our moral lives and our behavior are inextricably entwined. God’s intentions for us are clear. And, if that doesn’t suffice, then let us always remember our children.

Parents And Their Little Ones

A child’s moral character is formed by parental example. Parents are guardians of their child’s innocence. The unspoken example of parents has profound impact on every child’s character.

Effective parenting is a serious challenge today. Our children grow up in a world awash with cynicism and moral indifference; a world in which God and His Divine Mysteries are often treated as sentimental fiction.

Moreover, there’s widespread disregard for the Virtues of Modesty, Custody of the Eyes and Matrimony. Denial thrives. “Soft-core” porn is common. Purveyors of “hard-core” porn have a paralyzing foothold even on the Internet and AI.

Nonetheless, protecting children from porn is a critical responsibility of parents … really of all adults. Parents and their surrogates (schools, churches, society at large) must assure that children are not corrupted by porn, which is harmful to body and soul, mind and imagination.

Making Sense

The fact is that ignoring the existence of our Creator and His Commandments is indeed a logical contradiction. Why? Because modern science – indeed, all of Nature depends on Creation’s mysterious entities which are never directly seen or measured.

For example, dark matter, dark energy and space-time linkage are inferred by their effects, not by direct observation. Science is defined by unseen realities which are mysteries all.

Physicist Michael Guillen points out that invisible forces shape the billions of galaxies in Creation. Why, he asks, are metaphysical possibilities dismissed outright? The fact is that Physics accepts unseen realities when evidence insists … as it does constantly.

Discomfort among those who deny God arises from the inexorable implications that humanity is part of the Created Universe. Conclusion: we are products of our Creator.

Since this is true, the same inescapable logic pushes us beyond material explanations and disdain into the world of metaphysical Reality where God and His Revelation reign supreme and make total sense even to agnostics.

We are pushed into the world of Divine intervention in human affairs. It is a world in which our moral dignity is clear; a world in which God’s Commands insist we revere our dignity and remember our created state; a world where Virtue is fundamental to our behavior; a world where God’s Revealed Will is supreme.

We are not, therefore, free to ignore our Creator’s intentions by the use of porn or any of the moral absurdities (e.g., abortion or transgenderism) which false freedoms encourage.

The Point Of It All

Truly, we are citizens of God’s world, not our own … a world of Divine Mystery wherein our dignity as God’s children is paramount, our responsibilities clear, our lives focused.

We are born not to despoil our dignity nor to seek the corrupting isolation which false freedom foists upon us. We are given life to live in harmony with the wishes of our Creator, Whose Divine Image rests within our souls and Whose Will is clearly revealed.

The cultures we create and the lives we live must not be littered with frivolous self-indulgences. We must pursue Reverence and Wisdom, and eventually understand that True Love always requires the Virtues of Self-discipline and Sacrifice.

Let us always remember that our highest human goal is to express the Goodness in our souls, inspired by the Love of God and the selfless example of Jesus. This is, above all else, the point and purpose of our lives.

For these reasons, then, is it not obvious that porn simply does not belong in our lives?

• From a purely secular point of view, porn does harm to all whom it seduces. It does not belong in our lives.


• From a religious point of view, porn simply does not belong.


• From an authentically higher educational point of view, porn does not belong in our lives.


• From a cultural point of view, porn does not belong.

It is that simple.

 

9 Feb 2026

 

Maturity Isn’t Free:

A common misconception says that age brings Maturity. As we age, the saying goes, we naturally become mature and increase in Wisdom.

Wrong!!!

The Truth is that aging does not guarantee Maturity nor bestow Wisdom. In fact, some adults are emotionally immature in their thinking and quite unwise in their behavior.

Maturity is based on Wisdom. Wisdom imparts moral and intellectual insight which direct our lives, define our character, inspire prudent choices and guide us to lead stable, virtuous, often courageous lives.

Maturity, guided by Wisdom, dictates (1) that we accept personal responsibility for our attitudes, words and actions, and (2) that we acknowledge accountability for our impact on others. Maturity stresses our obligation to be genuinely concerned for others and to demonstrate that moral Virtue is a practical reality in daily life, even when Virtue is hidden behind other terms.

Maturity requires Wisdom, which is radically different from all other forms of knowledge, including academic and technical know-how. A person may, for example, be a recognized academic or a shrewd financial achiever but still be unwise and immature in his choices and behavior, especially when errant pride still reigns.

Wisdom’s Benefits

Wisdom understands the difference between mature decisions and immature decisions. It anticipates the price our choices exact of us and others. Wisdom also recognizes the subtle links between our behavior and the outcomes of our behavior, both in the short- and the long-run.

Wisdom grants discernment about the self-deceptive ploys to which we are prone. And Wisdom is alert to the moral values which benefit society; alert to the alibis we employ to avoid moral demands, alert to the impact we have on one another, alert to the rewards and pitfalls in relationships.  

Wisdom and Maturity always celebrate and encourage Goodness - but they have no illusions about ways we delude ourselves when we say or do something imprudent, crassly selfish or harmful.

Thus, Wisdom and Maturity see the Truth about people in unvarnished clarity, foresee outcomes (desirable and unpleasant) and, all the while, encourage Goodness and seek to influence others to Virtue.  

Wisdom’s Painful Lessons

We are wise to avoid needless pain in our lives -- but some pain is unavoidable and loss is inevitable. However, pain and loss can become (if we choose) a doorway to Wisdom. How?

When pain and loss are unavoidable, our coping mechanisms do not, by themselves, ease our suffering. At such times, Wisdom tells us that we have a choice to accept pain as a morally better path than grudging tolerance or simmering bitterness. Wisdom knows that because we are created individuals we are, therefore, in profound need of God’s support if we are to bear our fragility as His children … with Virtue and dignity.

Wisdom’s insight into our utter dependence on our Creator tells us that a deliberate act of our will to accept God’s sovereignty now makes eminent sense. We choose to accept God’s will over our own, even at the price of pain and loss.  

For many people, these lessons are learned over time, as we face hard personal realities and are stripped (voluntarily or not) of our ego-centric defensiveness, our need to control, our desires for revenge and applause. Wisdom urges us to face the Truth about ourselves – Truth which some of us hide from ourselves and others to protect our ego and elevate our status in the world.  

When we face the unpleasant Truths about ourselves (Truths which we all tend to deny), we can then deal with our selfishness and denial. These are major hurdles to Humility and Candor, to psychological health and moral common sense.

Wisdom is rooted in facing personal Truth … even though facing Truth is often painful. But that’s why Truth is so valuable -- and so elusive.

Maturity’s Extent

We live in various communities - family, church, school, work, friends, society. Maturity recognizes our moral obligations to one another in each community. Indeed, morality begins with simple courtesy and civility which become, if we choose, acts of Virtue.  

What we say and do does make a difference in this world. Many of our actions have moral consequences. We are not alone in this life, and our moral obligations to one another arise from our shared humanity. Human nature is, by definition, moral.

Morality is rooted in our responsible selves as created persons who are dependent on our Creator. Our problems arise when we act as if we have no moral accountability to God or one another. We are also responsible for our attitudes and our behavior even to strangers. Maturity - guided by Wisdom - understands that our moral obligations to one another direct us to create a better world by what we say and do.

Finally . . .

We are not given life to promote cynicism, conflict, untruth, denial or bitterness. We are not given life to tell lies or seek revenge or create chaos or foist pain upon others or treat people as inferior. Our words and behavior do have consequences. When we interact with others, moral accountability ever hovers.

Furthermore, every person has a moral obligation to live a life of Virtue and Goodness, however one may define them. Therefore, we must guard ourselves against moral indifference, self-adulation, cynicism and incivility.  

As we age, our Maturity will increase if we choose to learn from our experiences, especially painful ones, as Wisdom advises. Indeed, pain and loss can be an invitation to growth in Wisdom and Virtue – just as they were for Christ, Who trod a lonely path of pain and loss … and did so for us all.

No doubt, this is a hard lesson for many of us to learn and to accept, but is there another logical or reasonable answer? If we do not gratefully follow this Truth and seek Maturity and Wisdom, what then?

History has a ready answer and consistently reveals the terrible price humanity continues to pay when we put ourselves ahead of our Creator. And when we do consider the price humanity still pays, does it not then make great sense to follow the paths of Maturity and Wisdom, Virtue and Goodness?

 

23 Jan 2026

 

What’s The Answer ?

I am fascinated by the Mysteries of space, with its trillions of stars, the movement of planets and asteroids (some of which threaten Earth, such as 2025SC79), and the infinite wonders of Creation.

One example of these incredible realities is the "runaway" supermassive black hole which flees its host galaxy at 2.2 million miles per hour. Yale’s Pieter van Dokkum says this is the first confirmation of a runaway supermassive black hole. Staggering questions arise:

• Into what does this black hole flee? More space?


• This black hole travels at incredible speed, so how vast must be the area - the “space” - into which it flees?


• As a result of this finding (and countless others), can the existence of Infinity be questioned?

The Mysteries of the Universe are all around us and within us, yet we seldom speak of these astonishing realities and the obvious implications of Creation for humanity.

But Wait . . . There’s More

Another example: astronomers spot a “flare” from a distant black hole … a “flare” brighter than 10 trillion (with a T) stars.

And this: the Webb Telescope sights an object which apparently originated a mere 700 million years after the “Big Bang.” This adds to our understanding the origins and ages of the earliest black holes (once denied even by cognoscenti).

The concept of Time is yet another challenge. We speak of years, months, days, hours, of Time itself, as if Time were under human control. But “Time” (i.e., before-and-after) is a human concept to give us a handle on the passing of our years, an indication of how profound are these Mysteries - and how little we truly know.

Some people mistakenly say we control Nature. They say we’ve smashed the atom, plumbed the depths of Earth, mastered useful compounds. We’ve even developed driver-less autos. We stand atop the pyramid of life, they say.

They forget that Earth’s life span is finite, and Nature is not always benign. For instance, the Cascadia Subduction Zone (on the internet) presents incalculable danger to our nation.

Beyond The Obvious

When I forget that I, too, am part of Creation, I read Psalm 8 and reflect on King David’s Truths about human nature; Truths which many people ignore, forget or deny. David reminds us that all of Creation is the work of God. It is God, not us, Who sets the moon and stars in place.

David asks: What is mankind that God is even mindful of us … and cares for us? Truth is, David continues, God crowns us with glory and honor; gives us a measure of control over the works of His own hands. God puts all things at our feet, even the beasts of the field and the birds of the air, the fish of the sea and whatever swims the paths of the oceans. And, David concludes: “Oh Lord, how awesome is your name through all the earth!”

I ponder these Truths … and then am I relieved (at least for a time) of temptations and distractions which clutter my ego. I am again reminded of the purpose of all our lives, as I re-discover Truths easily obscured in the busy-ness and travail of living. And when I am, once again, reminded of these Truths, I face, once again, the inevitable questions we all face:

• What kind of person do I choose to be?


• Do I choose a life of Goodness and Virtue?


• What values do I choose to honor in my heart?

Simple Truths Are Tough In Practice

The most befitting answers to these questions are, of course, found only (1) in the Spirit of Love and (2) in the application of the Virtues in our lives. No merely human approach to living will ever sustain our deepest needs and hopes. And, as T. S. Eliot wrote, the modern world still contains a fair number of people who still find that Christianity (especially Catholic Christianity) offers the most satisfactorily account “for the world and especially for the moral world within.”

Note well: We do live in a moral world. We are born to act as responsible moral agents. However, our choice of moral behavior is not forced on us. It is a life-defining choice we must make.

Creation offers evidence (if we need it) of the overwhelming reality of God, Who made us all. As His creatures, we are bound both by His Divine Will and by just human laws to avoid evil and do what is Right. We are bound by the moral demands and guidelines best expressed for us in the Christian Virtues.

The Moral View

The Christian life is summarized in the Spirit of Love, in our being a Loving Person who acts with true concern for others, not simply from fear or coerced obligation. Love is the essence of morality.

Sustained love (i.e., the Virtue of Charity) is not to be confused with consenting sex or tawdry “romance” which pop culture often portrays with errant intensity. Love is not simply a passing feeling or an ephemeral emotion. It is a personal decision of the will to think, to act and to speak for the good of others. A Loving Person works hard at being unselfish and expressing benevolent concern for others, even when others are unkind or indifferent. Even if he stumbles over and over again, the Loving Person perseveres.

What Critics Say

Critics of Virtue have said that these words are nothing more than a way to avoid “necessary” conflict, an excuse for weakness and cowardice. Loving others can, of course, be a painful, lonely path, often misunderstood by those who see violence as inevitable and who define humanity only in terms of fear and mutual aggression.

Certainly, the urge to hurt back, to avenge wrongs, runs deep in the human heart. But some people do get overly righteous and seek revenge for its own sake. Ridding oneself of such delusional motives is tough. Thus, to love realistically takes real courage!! Mother Teresa of Calcutta got it right when she wrote that to be real, our Love has to cost us something. Indeed, Loving others can hurt, especially when we confront our errant ego-centrism.

The Loving Person speaks Truth. He believes we are all children of the same Father. The Loving Person does not coddle his anger, nor steal or cheat. He values kindness and, though difficult, he forgives others, as God forgives him and us, when we repent.

Spelling It Out

The example and inspiration for all this is, of course, Christ. By His words, actions and miracles He shows His love for humanity, and He asks us to do the same.

Thus are Christians called to be a courageous light in this world, to love our neighbor and ourselves, despite misunderstandings and harsh critics. In the pattern of Christ, it is our duty to make the Love of God a daily experience. Christ is our example; He is the source of our becoming that Loving Person we strive to be.

So, again, let us be clear: Christian Charity involves disciplined love of God, one’s self and other persons. The Virtue of Charity (Love in action) has many ways to express itself to God, one’s self and our neighbors. Moreover, it is an essential guideline for every healthy society, just as it is an essential path for our personal choices to live as we are intended to live.

In Real Life . . .

What does all this mean in the real, day-to-day world? Here are additional practical examples of Charity - of Love - in action:

• We express our Gratitude for life, even when times are difficult and we’re nagged by loss, temptation and doubt.


• We do what is morally correct, not simply what is socially acceptable, politically pragmatic or ego-pleasing.


• We do not deprecate or humiliate anyone. Instead, we listen to others attentively with our eyes as well as our ears; we do not give in to distractions.


• We do not manipulate others to impress or to look good, nor do we exploit others for gain (no lying, cheating or stealing).


• We speak Truth, even when Truth is painful, for Love cannot thrive in an aura of untruth.


• We are never rude nor self-seeking nor hateful in our words, nor do we entertain anger or haughty pretense … nor do we brood over injury nor ponder ways to get vengeance.


• We accept accountability for our behavior and we take responsibility for what we say and do.


• We are patient and always kind, quick to admit our errors and our wrongdoing; quick to ask pardon when we offend.


• We avoid jealousy, snobbish behavior and envy.


• We do not give insult nor defend ourselves.


• We listen to others because listening may be more beneficial for us than protecting ourselves from hard truths. We may learn something even from angry persons, for Truth is not always smoothly offered nor gently given.

Finally . . .

To be a Loving Person asks much of us. But it is surely the way God intends us to be … and God knows what He is doing, even when we do not.

The path of Virtue is ever before us. Our imperfections may create doubt and denial … but the path of Virtue ever beckons, whether we choose it or not.

We are, of course, Wise to choose Virtue, Wise to do so with humbled heart and disciplined ego. We are Wise to trust God to sustain us as we persevere, despite our recurring doubts and the inevitable travail of loss and misunderstanding.

Above all else, then, our calling in life is to be a Loving Person. To this goal we are called – all of us. May we be Wise enough to act as Love dictates.

 

4 Jan 2026

 

Wisdom’s Elusive Beauty

A trite but comfy adage says that our elder years will naturally bestow “Wisdom” upon us. Wisdom, the adage says, comes with age. Nonsense! Aging does not guarantee Wisdom. Many elders remain immature, unwilling to take responsibility for their choices, blaming others instead accepting accountability. Clearly, then, it’s not our length of years which bestows Wisdom.

Wisdom - i.e., True Wisdom - comes only when (1) we face the shortness of life, (2) embrace the Mysteries into which we are born, (3) accept the God-given limits to our freedoms and rights, and (4) stay accountable to God and to one another.

Wisdom inspires us to consider the unintended consequences of our behavior, to accept responsibility for our actions and own up to the consequences of our choices. Wisdom enlivens the words of Karol Wojtyla, who said, “Freedom consists of not doing what we like but having the freedom to do what we ought.”

Wisdom’s Nature

These days, True Wisdom is rare in our culture, but unrestrained emotions and unseemly fads flourish. Even unfounded opinions thrive under the tattered banners of distorted freedoms and the endless litany of pseudo-rights. But True Wisdom … t’is a grand, but infrequent, quality of heart and mind, soul and psyche.

For example, Wisdom insists that we are not free to live according to our urges and unruly emotions. That’s because Wisdom understands the necessity of living a life of Virtue, of avoiding extremes, of the need for gratitude and humility, empathy and altruism, forgiveness and reconciliation. Wisdom embraces the fundamental Truths which contribute to emotional and spiritual maturity on a natural as well as supernatural level.

True Wisdom

Wisdom builds on our natural, God-given gift of insight seasoned with Humility which inspires us (1) to recognize the potential value in the superficial allure and frequent pain of life, (2) to accept the Mysteries of God, (3) to acknowledge that we are His children. This is the only way anything in life makes sense.

True Wisdom (as Robert Luddy states) is about “the formation of the individual.” This involves our view of human freedom and self-discipline, the demands of morality, building our character and our emotional controls, and “relentlessly seeking truth.” 

Some people distort “wisdom” into a manipulative, ego-centric skill to outsmart others, a smug, shrewd, street-savvy gimmick which puts financial gain above all else. But True Wisdom reveals how crucial it is that we pursue Truth, even when it is costly to do so, even when we’re tempted to cut corners. Living according to Truth is a tough vocation; that’s why Wisdom eludes many of us.

True Wisdom provides insight into moral pitfalls, including bouts of self-pity and righteous puffery to which we are prone. Wisdom reminds us that we, too, are part of God’s Mysteries, subject to His Will from the instant of our conception.

True Wisdom finds its rationale and direction in the moral insights of Revelation and in various Virtues which enlighten humanity. These sources seem foolish to skeptics, who avoid even the mention of God and His Mysteries because their curiosity is not resolved to their satisfaction. They rely on their frail incredulity rather than on the evidence of Creation’s Mystery around us … and within us. They fail to see that all of Creation is Mystery.

Creation’s Mysteries are simply undeniable, including one’s own existence. Wisdom helps us accept the fact that curiosity is useful only to a point, for there are Mysteries in Creation which we shall never unravel… Mysteries such as Creation itself.

Further Points To Ponder

It is, of course, possible to separate ourselves from God, to think our lives have no connection to our Creator, to act as if we are gods-unto-ourselves, to hold others in dismissive disregard. In such instances, unbelievers may still seem to possess a degree of good judgment. But True Wisdom introduces the moral realm into our lives, introduces God’s point and purpose in Creation.

Wisdom bestows upon us that moral awareness which enlightens our lives, enlivens our motivation, and gives direction and meaning to our lives. Without this moral awareness to enrich human existence, all else would be worthless and chaotic.

Every life has moral meaning and moral consequences. We are born into God’s universe of moral possibilities which are determined by the choices we make and the actions we take.

Thus, True Wisdom bestows upon us the insight into what is morally right and wrong in human affairs, not merely what is socially desirable or culturally popular.

In our society, moral insight is often at odds with cultural fads. In fact, moral insight is unpopular (adjudged too judgmental by folks who resent judgmentalism) when it identifies wrongdoing and evil.

True Wisdom is about moral means-and-ends of our decisions, about the links between our behavior and the outcomes in our relationships with God and other people, even strangers.   

True Wisdom involves discernment about the moral roots of our human nature, about our motives; about the causes and effects of our choices in the short-run and long-run; about how we treat one another and the practical impact we have on one another … and, above all else, how we relate to God.  

Maturing In Wisdom

As we mature in Wisdom, we have no illusions about the ways in which people delude and alibi themselves. We have no illusions about humanity’s imprudence, self-serving motives or willingness to harm others by words and deeds. We see the Truth about humanity’s weaknesses. But rather than condemn others, Wisdom urges us to influence others toward Goodness.  

Wisdom often emerges when we face troubling times and are tempted to seek resentment or revenge. We are given a new vision of God working in our lives and in this world. It is through periods of painful personal experience coupled with Humility that Wisdom pushes us to see that our previous coping mechanisms are simply no longer effective or tenable. We then face Truths we have hidden from ourselves to protect our fragile egos and elevate ourselves in the eyes of others.

Humility (a misunderstood Virtue) urges us to admit that we did not understand (and we still do not fully comprehend) the Mind of God - but we now embrace His care, nonetheless. We embrace the Mystery of God … and of us…  

Thus does True Wisdom comes to us over time, as we grow in Faith and Hope, facing hard realities which strip us (voluntarily or not) of our defenses and deprive of all else … save God. 

Learning to accept Truth about oneself requires patience and recognition that we are truly God’s child. Growth in Wisdom can be costly, especially when we confront our habits of avoidance, selfishness and denial, which are hurdles to Humility and Candor.

Finally . . .

And when we realize that Wisdom awaits, what do we do?

We believe that we are loved by God … and we then act like it.

God’s Love, like Wisdom, is one of the countless Mysteries of Creation. As we get older, Wisdom may whisper to us that grumbling and complaining are not merely ineffective; they’re rehearsals for further petulance. They’re not the right path to which we are called.

Wisdom tells us to believe wholeheartedly that we are loved by God. Wisdom reveals that pain and loss are actually opportunities to grow in closeness to God. And, as Wisdom flowers, we realize that Christ trod this same path of wonderment we now endure. And we realize that we are indeed in very Good Company.