Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Growing in Virtue

This morning I read the following passage from "In Conversation with God" the Lenten volume:

The virtues demand the repetition of acts in order to grow, because each act disposes the soul to perform the next one more easily. For example, if a person lives the 'heroic minute' when he wakes up, thus overcoming his laziness from the very first moment of the day, he will find it easier to be diligent in going about his other duties whether they be large or small.

Well. I do not just pop out of bed in the morning. I usually give myself 5 or 10 minutes. I do pray during that time, but I see the point of this suggestion. It could be quite a mortification. And, in some ways, such a little thing....just a little denial of self comfort.

Of course, I'm already making excuses. Some people wake up more easily than others. Some always wake up before the alarm clock. Yeah, yeah. If it's harder for me than I just have a greater opportunity for more grace.

I'm going to give this a try.

5 comments:

Mimi said...

What a beautiful point, thank you. It is so hard to get out of bed in the morning for me, it's a good reminder that it is a spiritual issue as well as a physical one. Thank you!

Salome Ellen said...

My husband sits up on the edge of the bed and prays. He's chosen "up" but hasn't had to move too far yet. Maybe a compromise for slow starters?

Suzanne said...

Rosemary? You only wait 5 or 10 min.
Is that bad? I mean I understand what you are saying...and the fact you are already praying..well, I think God is mostly very pleased with that, but what do I know? :)
I have to just get up and do it, or I won't do well the rest of the day. I really get this post very well. :)

Suzanne said...

You've got a lot of choices. If getting out of bed in the morning is a chore and you're not smiling on a regular basis, try another choice.
~Steven D. Woodhull~

Rosemary..I had to laugh..my daughter had this quote up on her last blog...tee-hee! Just had to share.

Anonymous said...

I read this to my husband and he laughed. We gave up meat.