Baby Steps of Virtue
“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
1 Peter 2:2-3
Our daughter is 18 months old. Where did the time go? We have settled in a familiar routine: she attends daycare three days a week and we have rituals when returning home: we play, we might look at the backyard, or go on a family walk in the neighborhood. Then, it quickly turns to dinner, bath and bedtime. Within these routines, we hope to form habits in which she finds comfort.
Another fun part of watching our daughter grow is hearing her form different words. She has “dog” and “ball” down pat. “Outside” sounds more like “ow-sie” though, but with every pronunciation fumble, she gets a little closer with our help. As she has become a more confident walker, she will also become a more confident talker (and then there will be no stopping her).
Our growth in Christian virtue can be quite similar, can’t it? We stumble more times than we like to admit with the mechanics of righteousness or the vocabulary of the Kingdom, but each mistake is an opportunity for growth if we are willing to learn from it. Seeking wisdom from someone further down the Christian journey can help shape our “vowels” and “consonants” as we try to proclaim the Gospel through word and deed.
Yet, do not be mistaken; creating virtue-forming habits may not come naturally, but the church has been doing it for 2,000 years. The rhythm of our liturgy, the church calendar, and our way of life together form one large habit that helps us draw closer to our Lord.
Together, as the Body of Christ, we can become more like its head, the Lord Jesus. And quite surprisingly, by being shaped by the church, you can shape the church — for the glory of God.
