The Virtue of Hope (or, Thoughts While Shaving) by Phil Lawler

By Phil Lawler, Catholic Culture, Oct 27, 2023

Phil Lawler has been a Catholic journalist for more than 30 years. He has edited several Catholic magazines and written eight books. Founder of Catholic World News, he is the news director and lead analyst at CatholicCulture.org

Is there some mundane everyday event that prompts you toward theological musing? For me, it’s the simple act of looking in the mirror.

To be perfectly honest, if I’m looking in the mirror, there’s a good chance that I’m shaving, and in that case the thoughts running through my mind are not particularly lofty. (“Did I miss that tricky spot at the corner of my mouth? Ouch! Where is that styptic pencil?”) But then there are times when I take a good look at myself, and what I see worries me.

What I see, naturally, is a two-dimensional image: not a real man, but a reflection. It is an illusion, really, to think that I am looking at myself. The image is not the reality; the man in the mirror has neither body nor soul.

Then I reflect (no pun intended) that in another few moments I shall finish shaving and walk away, and my image will disappear from the surface of the mirror.  …

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