Well-nigh

“If everyone were clothed with integrity, if every heart were just, frank, kindly, the other virtues would be well-nigh useless.” Moliere

Happy Monday!

Wow! What a week at the Olympics! So many amazing and talented athletes bringing us surprises, new accomplishments, and so much joy. We share in their victories and offer congratulations to all these outstanding, talented individuals for their courage and dedication! Can’t wait to see what’s in store this week 🙂

Watching the games and the discipline of pursuing excellence in sports reminded me of the concept and importance of virtues. By definition, virtues are behaviors that show high moral standards, such as goodness, integrity, and honesty. (Oxford Languages). Some refer to them as paragons or ideals by which to pattern a lifestyle. I can’t say I disagree.

In a world where chaos and strife seem to prevail, it seems essential to consider the virtue of integrity. Simply put, integrity means being truthful, responsible, and trustworthy. A person or organization credited with integrity is one that we can rely on to be consistently ethical and faithful in accomplishing the goals and standards that have been agreed upon.

Moliere, regarded as one of the greatest writers of the French language, was famous for his wit and comedic works. However, he was quite serious about integrity, as stated below:

Moliere thought so highly of the virtue of integrity that he rendered the others well-nigh useless. True confessions here. I had to look up the meaning of well-nigh. Here’s what I found: it’s an adverb that means almost. I had a suspicion, and those of you who are good with linguistics had probably figured it out. (Please be humble with your greatness! Lol!).

The point is, if we all purposed to be people mindful of our level of integrity, I think we would be amazed at how our surroundings would change. When we act from a place of justice for the sake of the greater good, not to satisfy some need to create division or as a power play, being just truly might be welcomed. It may be as simple as keeping our word, rendering injustice well-nigh rare.

Often, we shy away from being frank. Many of us have been conditioned to receive frankness as being blunt, which has gained a negative connotation. Being frank is really just delivering information from a place of truth. It’s not necessarily meant to be rude or hurtful but to convey thoughts. Perhaps we can learn to receive straightforward information without ascribing an emotional attachment once we feel better about ourselves and those with whom we interact. That’s right, relying on each other’s integrity, making insults well-nigh a thing of the past.

And then, of course, there’s the matter of operating from a place of kindness. I could write volumes on this, so I will keep it brief this time. (Maybe kindness will be the theme of next week’s Musing.) I’ve seen the following frequently:

“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” Clare Pooley

Scripture instructs:

“Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ.” Ephesians 4:32 (CEB)

And if kindness was a virtue that people chose first, meanness might be well-nigh unknown or never experienced.

This week, as we enjoy the Olympics and the incredible integrity and courage of the athletes in each sport, let’s continue to look at ways we can improve our surroundings. Let’s purpose to examine our virtues, prioritizing integrity, exploring how we approach justice, being frank as we give and receive information, and being kind to one another. Perhaps we can begin to chip away at the negativity that prevails and make it well-nigh a thing of the past!

Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda