A seminar on self-reflection and virtues – Rotary Club of Enroil, Heliopolis
The lecture discusses the importance of beginning the new year by examining oneself, rather than merely with greetings, social courtesies, and festive appearances. Pope Shenouda III explains that self-examination includes looking at the sins a person has committed, as well as the virtues he lacks, so that he may work on correcting his mistakes and developing his virtues. The talk also focuses primarily on forming a comforting soul that is not merely peaceful within itself, but also makes others feel comfortable and at peace when dealing with it.
Spiritual Message
Pope Shenouda connects the peace of the heart with the peace of the mind, followed by peaceful speech, nerves, and behavior toward others. Therefore, he calls a person to stay away from impulsiveness and haste, and not to make decisions or write words while in a state of disturbance or distress, but rather to wait until the soul becomes calm and examine the matter again.
The comforting soul, according to the lecture, is characterized by cheerfulness, kindness, gentleness, and wisdom, and is able to reassure others and create goodness and peace. Wisdom is also not merely intelligence, because a person may be intelligent yet use his intelligence in the wrong direction because of desire, hatred, pride, or haste.
Educational Lesson
The lecture teaches us that wisdom appears in knowing the appropriate time to speak and to remain silent, and to know when to act quickly and when to deliberate, and that seeking advice adds knowledge and experience from others to a person. It also emphasizes that a comforting soul is not characterized by harshness in words, judgments, criticism, teaching, or dealings.
On the other hand, the talk warns against qualities that make a soul tiring to others, such as being troublesome, suspicious, excessively investigative, reproachful, interfering in others’ privacy, persistent, pressuring, and argumentative.
Practical Spiritual Application
The practical application is for a person to begin the new year by honestly examining himself, identifying what needs correction and what virtues need to be developed. He should practice calmness, self-control, and patience in decisions and words, and make his presence a source of comfort rather than exhaustion for those around him. He should also learn to offer criticism gently, respect the privacy of others, and give them an opportunity to think without pressure or insistence.
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