Let there be charity always

CHARITY has to be learned and relearned. A continuing and endless process has to imbue its learning, because its demands and lessons are also endless.

This is not breaking news, of course. But it is a truth that, unfortunately, has been widely forgotten and ignored. A reminder is now urgent.

For this is the essence of charity. It's the perfection of our life. It's our life's goal and directing principle. But how many remember this? How many live by this dictum?

We are not truly fulfilled unless we fall and are in love. This, always. We have been made for it. We actually yearn for it. Poets rightly capture it when they say charity is the language of our heart.

Yet all around us are a glut of activities, otherwise considered to be smart, clever, brilliant, but obviously lacking in charity. The end result has always been more harm than benefit, more evil than good.

Let's hope we never forget this. More than that, let's hope we do all we can to enhance and foster charity in our daily lives, in everything that we do.

Not only earnest personal effort is required for this. Also family, social, yes, even national and world efforts are needed for this. In other words, the air everywhere should be suffused with charity.

What fallacy it would be to think that charity is only a personal affair, or a spiritual concern. And yet how widespread this mentality is!

Many think it would be politically incorrect to talk about charity in the media, for example. Or in professional, business or political gatherings. Many think it is corny to talk about it. Could it not rather be that they just don't want to tackle the real challenge in life?

Such mentality can only betray an inconsistent mind. Charity, for all practical purposes, has to be our every breath, our every heart beat. It's the law that should govern our life.

For charity is co-terminus with our life. For those who believe in the supernatural life, charity certainly transcends our earthly existence. It's what makes eternity successful and blissful for us.

It's truly a waste of time if charity is not consciously made the goal and criterion for our every move. Many just get stuck with money as their life's end. Others with mere practicality or even popularity and prestige.

Still others may talk about some egalitarian purpose, but unless one consciously relate all their legitimate human motives to charity, then everything will just be lost.

Remember what Saint Paul once said:

"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have no charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.

"And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have no charity, I am nothing.

"And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have no charity, it profits me nothing." (1 Cor 13,1-3)

And the good thing about charity is that we don't have to worry about having to do big, impressive things. It always starts with small ordinary things. In fact, it requires them. Big extraordinary things mean nothing if the small ones are not imbued with charity.

Thus, charity can begin with a simple smile, a simple gesture of good will to others, especially those who for one reason or another we don't particularly like.

It is shown when we train ourselves to be patient, understanding and compassionate with others. This, shown in many endless ways. Like willing to listen to others, trying to get their point of view, concentrating more on the unifying elements rather than in the divisive ones.

It's lived whenever we show affection to all, ever learning the soft skills of being pleasant without compromising the truth. Yes, we need to be emotionally intelligent, not just intellectually smart. As one saint said it, we have to be "fortiter in re, suaviter in modo," strong and precise in the issue at hand, but pleasant in the way of arguing about it. We actually do not care how much one knows. We mind more when we know one cares for us.

Easier said than done, of course. But that's the challenge we have everyday -- how to blend fortitude with refinement, justice with mercy. That's why charity has to be learned and relearned. An endless process characterizes its learning.