What do they have to do with each other?
Everything. The first word in virtuoso is virtue. Morality. Holding oneself to a higher standard. If you’ve made the choice, as I advocate in my presentations, to become a Life Virtuoso, sooner or later you will have to make moral choices, draw some lines in the sand. More importantly, you will have to take intentional action on those choices.
I’m not trying to preach, here, but I will state an opinion. There is NO WAY murdering innocent people is godly, or a high moral choice. The radical islamics who perpetrated this evil at some point in their lives chose to be lesser humans, to live to a lower standard. Someone, or some wrong philosophy told them that was ok. It is not.
Choosing a higher moral standard and clarity about that moral choice is a foundational trait of Life Virtuosos. Taking action is the responsibility of that choice. Surrounding yourself with people who reinforce and support your choice and actions is imperative.
Edmund Burke famously wrote, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
Don’t do nothing! The fact is, as the Virtuoso Community, you are more capable than most, you hold yourself to a higher standard, and quite frankly the world needs what you can do. So, try this…
Your action for the week… Sit down in a comfortable chair, pour your favorite fall beverage and answer these questions:
* What’s really most important to you?
* What bothers you most about the world? This is sometimes referred to as your “Holy Discontent.” (Bill Hybels)
* What are you going to do about it? Make a plan
Mike
PS My daughter, Seneca (the one who co-wrote my “A Nerd Like Me” Taylor Swift parody), is doing something amazing. She’s 14, and since we moved to Las Vegas she has had a special heart for our many homeless people. (I don’t think I could spell homeless at 14). At Verve (http://www.vivalaverve.org) serving the homeless is a bi-weekly thing for us. While serving this past Saturday Seneca was overwhelmed with compassion and decided she wants to create at least 250 “Hygiene Packs” to hand out for the holidays, containing socks, water bottle, toothbrush/toothpaste, (tampons/pads for women), chapstick, etc – things they really need. Her goal is to raise $2,000+.
https://www.gofundme.com/loveLasVegas.
If you’d like to help Seneca serve the homeless this Christmas season go to: https://www.gofundme.com/loveLasVegas. Thank you so much!
Here is another quote from Einstein – The question is what will France now do about this? “The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it. – Albert Einstein”
Hadn’t heard that quote of Einstein’s. I learn so much from this.
Mike, happy to see you specified ‘radical Islamists’ unlike some of our current radical politicians who choose to radicalize and marginalize an entire religion because of the acts of a few. What should be examined is, what has driven these people to such acts? Maybe, just maybe being invaded, occupied, tortured, seeing your home, family and country destroyed would drive us to the same kind of behavior. News alert: there is no god/gods. “Religion is the neurosis of the masses”.
Hey William! Thank you for your comments. A couple of points come to mind. It’s interesting but the challenge with US politicians on the left is not whether we call them RADICAL Islamists, but whether we point out they’re Islamists at all. They refer to them as radical extremists and similar titles. And I haven’t heard any on the right categorize them as simply Muslims or Islamists. Pretty much every one of them I hear says “Radical Islamists” or “Muslim Extremists.”
Also, I can safely say there is nothing you described here, nor any evil that I can imagine, which would cause me to walk into a theater and randomly execute unarmed innocent concert-goers, nor move restaurant to restaurant on a busy Friday evening and execute innocent people having dinner. Evil never cures evil. Nothing would drive me to that behavior. For what it’s worth, Christianity is about exactly that… loving those who persecute you and I try to practice that. Offering grace to those who’ve harmed you. Not that I wouldn’t protect my family because that is of course necessary, but I am also called to forgive, welcome and love radical Islamists, Nazi’s, KKK members, racists, and the worst and most marginalized in society.
Last point, just an idea. When it comes to religion, I’m the least “religious” person I know. Jesus hated religion. The only people on this earth for whom Jesus had contempt were the religious leaders. You might check out a few interesting books: The Case For Christ; Evidence That Demands A Verdict; The Reason For God. They’re evidential, logical examinations of direct evidence for the claims of Christianity. Maybe not your thing, I’m just offering. Again, thank you!
Do not call them Terrorists.
Do not call them by the name of the very thing they seek to elicit. Let’s not load their weapon for them. Let’s give them no justification for existence or reason for doing what they do. They commit horrible crimes. They are criminals. Let’s call them criminals.
I’d never thought of that Emma Lee, good point.
Hi Mike,
Most important to me is my family. Events like this around the world (or even those close to home, unfortunately) makes me realize how much we all take for granted the minutes we have with each other. Savoring time and experiences with my family are what I value the most.
What makes me upset about the world is self-centeredness, rudeness, and general unkindness. We focus a lot on major events of terrorism or crime, but I think it all starts with how we treat each other each day. Making eye contact and smiling at people (even the homeless, not just those who can do something for us), letting people go in front of us in line while driving, holding doors open, offering to help – that’s what can change the world. Imagine an “army” of 100,000 just spreading kindness.
I LOVE this, Kennon! Totally agree.