Hard Sayings: Hope ain't a cheap happy meal

Warning: Tough talk below--exit now iffin' youse flaccid-hearted.


Hope ain't jes' a happy wish. Happy-wish hope is "please Mr. President, gimme a car."
Thas' too juvenile to comment further.




But make note--that kind of "hope" sells big in pollyticks, an some folks is shocked to their crocs to find such shallow "hope" comes with a chain around yore neck, a mighty high price for a bowl of porridge. Next time ya hear some log-likkin' mush mouth talk about "hope," ya best turn yore back to it.

True hope is one of the theological virtues: Faith, Hope, Love.

The theological virtues build on a natural human awareness of excellence. This is why we can discuss hope whether or not youse a believer in anything theological or not.

"Virtue" ain't prissy. It's muscular. Virtue comes from Latin "virtus" meanin' strong, same root as virile. Heh--ain't that an old idea--that there is nuthin' virile about loss of virtue. Loss of virtue is loss true manliness, an' loss of inner strength.

Virtue means habitual and firm desire to do right. To do what is good. Virtue as a habit helps a body to perform good acts an' to give the best of hisself. The virtuous person tends toward the good with all his sensory and spiritual powers; he pursues the good and chooses it in concrete actions.

"Chooses it in concrete actions" means it ain't some lofty ideal fer you to demand of others to make up fer yore own lack, no no....it is an action on YORE own part to DO WELL, DO GOOD.

Now here's the hard sayin' about Hope: True Hope ain't had cheaply.

It comes to a person who has pursued self-mastery, a person who governs his or her passions according to the good for the body and soul, thus is goodly disposed toward neighbor as well.

If yore idea of hope is to find a legal cudgel to steal yore neighbors goods or opportunities, then yore hope does nothin' to strenghten you, rather it debases you.

Thas' a synthetic hope, a poison for suckin' down some of yore nighbors good. False hope breeds bad attitudes an' bad acts--that is, it weakens the body and mind. It makes ya unfit to contain any true hope --for ya know yore own inner rot is growin', takin' over what remains of healthy dispostions. Keep suckin' on false hope an' soon enough youse so weak ya cain't do nuthin' but whine for wine to put ya outa yore misery.

Hope is a by-product of good character development--an' that comes from education, trainin' and the practice of self-control.

For Christians Hope has a higher meaning still: The expectation of eternal life in the presence of God who created us to share eternity with Him, if we choose to choose the good. (God doan knock ya' over and demand ya' do thangs His way. He invites, you decide.)

Fortitude is one of the four cardinal virtues. It's the filet under the fois gras an' truffle.

Fortitude is the virtue that gives a person they own firm attitude of hope and goodness during troublesome times. Looky, it ain't all that hard to be "good" when thangs is goin' jes' swell--right?

Where fortitude comes in is doin' good, bein' good an' expectin good of others when thangs is troubled and wearying. THAT's the tough soul that displays virtus, a virility/ virtue that inspires others to behave their best too. Iffin' yore virtue ain't tested, how ya gonna keep it sharp and ready fer battle?

Fortitude is a commitment-- despite the odds-- in the pursuit of the good. It is the essence of resolve to do well and resist temptations to go flaccid. The virtue of fortitude is how the brave face fear, even fear of death, an' face trials or persecutions.

It's what stood martyrs up in the face of inhuman horrors. Fortitude in a Christian wells up from a deep resovoir of grace such that he can sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause. The Christian with hope and fortitude is not ultimately undone by any sufferings in this world because Christ also suffered, yet overcame all for our sakes, "Be good cheer, I have overcome the world."

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