Paula Huston, author of the excellent The Holy Way, followed up in 2007 with By Way of Grace. In By Way of Grace, Paula describes how she was at hermitage in California when she read a Scripture verse which, although she’d read it hundreds of times already, now penetrated her heart. “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: ‘Rivers of living water will flow within him’” [John 7:37-38, NAB] She understood that God was calling her deeper into holiness. By Way of Grace is Paula’s account off what she learned on her journey to a deeper faith.
Paula discusses “8 virtues that open the heart to God” and I particularly like the “subtitles” that she has given to the traditional virtues:
- Prudence – the Art of Seeing Clearly
- Temperance – the Art of Holding a Balance
- Fortitude – the Art of Courageous Continuing
- Justice – the Art of Forgiving
- Humility – the Art of Honest Self Appraisal
- Faith – the Art of Believing in Things Unseen
- Hope – the Art of Patient Waiting
- Charity – the Art of Loving the Enemy
I urgently need to cultivate all these virtues, but the one that stands out for me right now is “the Art of Seeing Clearly.” Does any one of these vitures leap out for you?
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
This book is on my “to read” list. The virtues when described certainly pop out and I found myself attracted to Faith – the Art of Believing in Things Unseen. I’m a practical kind of gal and I have a fondness for the tangible. Yet so often I am called to imagine the unimaginable, believe in what I cannot see. It is a good virtue because it calls for openness, possibility, and leaps of faith both small and large!
I really liked the way Paula Huston has expressed the 8 virtues. They are very succinct and inspiring. They sound similar to the gifts of the holy spirit. I’m inspired to read the book “By way of Grace”
Arun
Sister Julie,
Thank you for sharing your reaction with me. I’m with you in having a fondness for the tangible and am, therefore, particularly grateful for the gift of faith. I don’t think I’d be able to bring myself to faith on my own…
Paul
Arun,
Thanks for your comments. I hope you will find “By Way of Grace” as inspiring as I did. Paula Huston is totally authentic and she writes beautifully.
Paul
Hope is definately the one I’m most grappeling with these days. It’s not that I don’t have Faith that all things will work to God’s good. It’s just that I’m simply not a patient person. I want to see my student who has lukemia cured now not progressing up and down. I want to see God’s healing in the life of the child damaged by the abuse she received from her own mother so she will be ready to receive her sacraments. My prayers lately sound like a two year old’s temper tantrum. “I want answers on how I can fix this Lord and I want them now even thought I know that’s not how it works. I feel helpless as I stand beside your people Lord. What can I do to help them? How can I share your words of hope? How can I remind them of your love?”
I guess it is too much about me and what I can do instead of remembering You are already here in their lives with them in their pain and that You will do all things to bring these children closer to You.