The end of effort (2)

Let us remind ourselves that none of the virtues—love, forgiveness, generosity, courage et al—require any effort. The only thing effort can do is turn them into a religion.

Around now

Around now we start receiving messages saying that Jesus is the reason for the season. Perhaps, but maybe not. In one of his least quoted directives, Jesus said, “Sell all that you have and give it to the poor.” You’d think that activity would accelerate around now.

The Virgil effect

Life befriends and guides generous men. Tightwads fall into holes they’ve dug themselves.

Money

The culture is exceedingly devout in its worship of money. It is assumed that men in three-piece suits know what they are talking about.

We are fully revealed in our relationship to money, especially by how we part with it.

There is not much to be done with a man who is tighter than three coats of paint. He wants something, seeks an advantage. He cannot love.

Secret

A man should keep ten percent to himself—not for himself, to himself. The portion he keeps to himself is his charitable and philanthropic activity. This should not be disclosed. Benevolence without secrecy is self-promotion. Do not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing.

Secret and sacred are intimates. Some men seem instinctively to know that secrecy is a virtue. George Michael knew it.