“We ought not to ask who is speaking, but mark what is said.”— The Imitation of Christ Bk.1.V.

We find truths everywhere when we have ears to hear and eyes to see. Persons of good will abound. And I must be grateful for them. No one is so bereft of Truth that they cannot teach me something that is good and true. And I try to acknowledge and be grateful for it.

One old woman ages ago said to me, “I listen to all I meet. And I take the meat and leave the bones.”

Good Will looks for the wheat in others and passes over the chaff whenever possible, Christian or not,  without cynical judgments. Perhaps tomorrow they will walk directly into Christ’s light, while I might fall away into darkness. Von Balthasar (yes, him) spoke truly when he said “truth is symphonic.”

+ Reginald Garrigou-Lagrane on truth as symphonic

“A good and devout man arranges in his mind the things he has to do, not according to the whims of evil inclination but according to the dictates of right reason. Who is forced to struggle more than he who tries to master himself? This ought to be our purpose, then: to conquer self, to become stronger each day, to advance in virtue.

“Every perfection in this life has some imperfection mixed with it and no learning of ours is without some darkness. Humble knowledge of self is a surer path to God than the ardent pursuit of learning. Not that learning is to be considered evil, or knowledge, which is good in itself and so ordained by God; but a clean conscience and virtuous life ought always to be preferred. Many often err and accomplish little or nothing because they try to become learned rather than to live well.

“If men used as much care in uprooting vices and implanting virtues as they do in discussing problems, there would not be so much evil and scandal in the world, or such laxity in religious organizations. On the day of judgment, surely, we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done; not how well we have spoken but how well we have lived.

“Tell me, where now are all the masters and teachers whom you knew so well in life and who were famous for their learning? Others have already taken their places and I know not whether they ever think of their predecessors. During life they seemed to be something; now they are seldom remembered. How quickly the glory of the world passes away! If only their lives had kept pace with their learning, then their study and reading would have been worth while.

“How many there are who perish because of vain worldly knowledge and too little care for serving God. They became vain in their own conceits because they chose to be great rather than humble. He is truly great who has great charity.

“He is truly great who is little in his own eyes and makes nothing of the highest honor. He is truly wise who looks upon all earthly things as folly that he may gain Christ. He who does God’s will and renounces his own is truly very learned.” — Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ, Bk. 1. ch.3

May God help us.