| The Best Things in Life |
Chapter 2 |
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There is another habit of life, which if it were to become universal would change many things – namely, the habit of always seeing the good in people, in conditions, in circumstances, and in experiences. St. Paul suggests it when he says in a remarkable passage, “If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” The emphasis seems to be on any – if there be any virtue, even the least, in another, if there be in a life which seems almost wholly bad, even the smallest thing that is good, we are to find that and to think upon that mere speck of beauty, rather than on the much that is evil and unbeautiful. If there be in a person any praise, any smallest quality or act that is worthy of praise, of which we can speak with even the faintest approval and commendation, we should give thought to that, and voice our appreciation, rather than think and speak of the many things in the person that are not god or praiseworthy.
It is easy to think of reasons why this is the Christian way. It is Christ’s way with us. If there be any good, even the faintest spark of virtue or hope in a life, Christ sees it. He is looking for good and hopeful things. Some people see only the faults and flaws in the lives of others – they are looking for these things – blemishes, defects, imperfections. They are never trying to find anything beautiful, and they find what they seek. Our Master, however, is looking for things that are right, good beginnings of better things.
Some one asked the curator of an academy of fine arts regarding the pictures of a certain artist: “What do you consider the defects in his work?” The answer was, “We do not look for defects here, but for excellences.” It is thus that our Master does in our lives – he does not look for the imperfections, of which there always are many, but for things that are worthy of commendation. If there be any virtue he finds it, takes note of it, nourishes it, and woos it out. If Christ looked upon us as we too often look upon others, seeing the flaws, the shortcomings, the inconsistencies, the failures, and judged us by these, not many of us ever would grow into beauty. But where there is even a spark of good he finds it, and cultivates it into his best possibilities.
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