Covey Quote of the Week

[qos]

This insight has become very important to me over the past few months:

"The only measure of what you believe is what you do. If you want to know what people believe, don't read what they write, don't ask them what they believe, just observe what they do."

Ashley Montagu

Comments

[blessed-harlot.livejournal.com]

This reminds me of a pivotal moment in my chaplaincy training, when a mentor emphasized the distinction between the theology we profess, and the operational theology embedded in our deepest thoughts, feelings and actions.

[qos.livejournal.com]

This has been one of the most important concepts to me over the past couple of years: the difference between what we say we believe and what our actions say we believe --- in most cases, "we" meaning "I myself."

But I see this as part of the job of a spiritual director as well: to help the other person identify any gaps between declared beliefs and values and their actions.

As is the case with so many things, this is well expressed by Swedenborg's "ruling love" concept: that ultimately our lives are an expression of what we love the most, which is determined not by what we say but where we put our time, resources, attentions, and actions.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_storyteller_/]

Such is why I am in the Army and I feel comfortable here.

"One man acting virtuous is better than 10 who speak of it."