When you are gone from this planet, what would you want your legacy to be? In an article in the Huffington Post, Joan Moran explains, \”The idea of leaving a legacy is the need or the desire to be remembered for what you have contributed to the world.\” By legacy, I don\’t mean material legacy; I mean legacy of enduring quality.
Aristotle argues that the most important enduring quality is virtue. In Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle explains that a virtuous (moral) person is one who is able to make good judgement. Making sound (or wise) decisions mark the depth of moral excellence (virtue).
In this way, the \”good man\” or the \”good woman\” is one who lives focusing on making good decisions — publicly and privately.
Both character and integrity are operative words of virtue. Last week, I shared how important it is to balance \”being\” and \”doing.\” What one does should flow out of who one is. Jesus said,
For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:43–45)
The ole American southern adage says, \”Mouth will tell it!\” In other words, when one wants to know the truth about something, time and observation will reveal. There is necessary connection between what\’s in us and how we act; the way one lives publicly and privately indeed reflects the depth of inner virtue.
Without sounding the alarm, others will notice and respect people of virtue for years after we will have transitioned into eternity. Conversely, the lack of virtue tarnishes the good and accentuates weaknesses. Virtue is not inerrancy; it is the mother of good will.
May virtue be our legacy!
Dr. Antipas
