It cannot, indeed, possibly be denied, that our being God’s creatures, and virtue being the natural law we are born under, and the whole constitution of man being plainly adapted to it, are...obligations to piety and virtue… - Joseph Butler
One of the paradoxes of military service, at least in my experience, is that actual combat is frequently more straightforward and less anxiety-ridden than training for combat. The reason is that, in combat, reality is the only umpire. Reality itself guides one’s actions and the outcome of the engagement.
This connection to reality is much less clear in a training environment. Training for combat is a critical part of being ready for combat, and the more realistic the training the better, but it is impossible to perfectly replicate reality. Consequently, it’s very hard to take the less-realistic aspects of training seriously.
Such is not the case with the moral war being waged all around us. We do not exist in a simulation where we can change the rules to suit our preferences. The moral law, although unseen, is the foundational dimension of reality and is the framework upon which all else depends.
We cannot alter this moral law, and are thus left with two options. We may choose the way of virtue, piety, and humility, aligning ourselves with the moral law and taking our stand alongside the forces of good. Or, we may embrace hubris, self-idolatry, and relativism, which amounts to open and self-destructive rebellion to all that is good, true, and beautiful.
Only the way of pietas through the gateway of humility leads us to realizing our full potential and becoming everything we were created to be. The small, seemingly inconsequential choices we make throughout the day determine whether or not we make any progress down that path. To neglect to follow the way of humility is to be drawn down the dark road of hubris, with the death of the soul being the final destination.
Which path will you choose?
