Monday, July 21, 2008

Arete

While Kevin and I were hiking down from Lake Serene yesterday he asked me to tell him what I know about Socrates. Our discussion of Socrates and Plato moved into Greek thought and the concept of arete came up. The only thing I could remember was that it had to do with excellence.
Later with the help of wikipedia I learned that it is not only excellence but also goodness and virtue and living out one's potential and fulfilling our life's purpose.

This idea just scream baptismal call to me. The concept that I am created as a unique individual have my own call or purpose or potential to fill is very comforting. Actually, it is more than comforting. It is liberating. I don't need to worry about how I compare to you because you have a different purpose than I do.

And if we all have a purpose we are all valuable, or at least potentially valuable. Perhaps if you don't work toward your potential or are blocked by forces outside your control in reaching it your value is missed and never utilized.

hmm, more thoughts should be given to this idea. I'll have to do some pondering.