MRS. GRUNDY’S ORIGIN STORY
It’s a Virtuous Life
Every Christmas season Mrs. Grundy watches It’s a Wonderful Life. She so loves this movie that she wanted to live in Bedford Falls. But, when the mythical Mrs. Grundy discovered Bedford Falls was also mythical, the family settled in Virginia instead.
Mrs. Grundy Thinks the movie’s hero, George Bailey, perfectly demonstrates the arduous, yet joyful, quest for a virtuous life.
George Bailey’s quest was arduous. His dreams dashed by family tragedy, the vile Mr. Potter, and bungling Uncle Billy. Yet, it was also joyful: a compassionate marriage, kind neighbors, and the treasure of Zuzu’s petals in his coat pocket.
George practiced virtue as he wended his way. Of course, he did not perfect it. Nor did he signal it through a lawn sign, Tesla purchase or patronizing sentiment.
Noted authorities agree with Mrs. Grundy that virtue is the appropriate point between excess and deficiency. It is practiced through the cardinal virtues of wisdom, justice, courage and moderation, and the fundamental theological virtues – faith, hope and charity (love) --established in relationship with God.
Mrs. Grundy Thinks extremism in defense of virtue is no vice.
Thusly, to live a virtuous life is to practice these seven virtues, as best one can, without preening, preaching or performance. Instead: Gird the loins, carry a yellow highlighter, avoid philistines. Think, listen, and take a joke.
As Micah 6:8 advises: “…what does the Lord require of you / but to do justice and to love kindness / and to walk humbly with your God?”
Undertaking the arduous, yet joyful, quest for a virtuous life may seem foolish when the times seem to reward greed and graft more than goodness. Mrs. Grundy is undeterred.
She thinks Bedford Falls endures because there is a George Bailey inside every Modern. And because the movie’s happy ending validates Mrs. Grundy’s slogan: Extremism in the defense of virtue is no vice. Indeed.