"I am optimistic about our ability to better ourselves," says Forni in his book Choosing Civility, "We can learn to be decent and caring; we can learn to give of ourselves; we can learn to love" [19]. Though we don't have control over the events that happen in our lives, we do however, have a say in how we choose to respond in times of joy and in times of crisis. Forni goes on to say that our circumstances prevent us from learning how to be civil and how to love and how to forgive. So how are we suppose to learn to do these things? We need a teacher; someone who does these things well to teach us the basics. Love will come, says Forni, but manners come first.
For some reason, I'm not quite as optimistic as Forni about "our ability to better ourselves." I am, however, more optimistic in the Holy Spirit's ability to better us. I agree with Forni that we need a teacher to teach us, but not just any teacher. We need to follow a first century rabbi named Jesus. The more time we spend following our Teacher, Rabbi Jesus, the more recognize we are unable to change ourselves but need his Spirit to transform us - to love as Jesus loves; to forgive as Jesus forgives; and treat others as Jesus treats them.
But a question still remains, "To what extent can our circumstances prevent us from finding a teacher?"
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