"Those who admit the truth of what I have said know, I am sure, why we are bound to love God. But if unbelievers will not grant it, their ingratitude is at once confounded by His innumerable benefits, lavished on our race, and plainly discerned by the senses. Who is it that gives food to all flesh, light to every eye, air to all that breathe?"
— Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153) · Abbot of Clairvaux✦ Innumerable
Bernard refuses to catalogue them because the list has no end. He names three — food, sunlight, air — not because they are God's best gifts, but because they are essential to bodily life. Every breath is a gift. Every meal is a gift. Every ray of light is an arrow aimed at the Giver. Bowen's sun that rises on the just and the unjust — Bernard sees the same sun and traces it back to the same hand.
"Man must seek in his own higher nature for the highest gifts; and these are dignity, wisdom and virtue.
By dignity I mean free-will, whereby he not only excels all other earthly creatures, but has dominion over them.
Wisdom is the power whereby he recognizes this dignity, and perceives also that it is no accomplishment of his own.
And virtue impels man to seek eagerly for Him who is man's Source, and to lay fast hold on Him when He has been found."
— Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153)"Dignity, wisdom and virtue — the three highest gifts."
— Bernard of Clairvaux · Freedom to choose. Knowledge that this freedom is a gift. The seeking that will not let go.✦ The Complete Movement of the Soul
Dignity — free will. The capacity to choose. The image of God in humanity. Not forced to love, but given the freedom to love or to refuse.
Wisdom — two recognitions in one glance. First: seeing the dignity you have. Second: perceiving that this dignity is no accomplishment of your own. Bowen's "know yourself" from James 4:10. The gift and the Giver seen together.
Virtue — the movement that completes the triad. Seek eagerly for Him who is man's Source, and lay fast hold on Him when He has been found. Baker's tyrannizing affection. Guyon's weight of love. Jacob wrestling the angel: I will not let You go unless You bless me (Genesis 32:26).
Dignity gives the capacity. Wisdom gives the awareness. Virtue gives the direction. That is the whole devotional life in three words.
"Dignity, Wisdom, Virtue — the three highest gifts. Paul says to desire the highest gifts. There is no true life without them."
✦ Cherish Without Neglect
Bernard's warning in the title holds it all together: cherish the gifts without neglect of the Giver. The food, the sunlight, the air, the dignity, the wisdom — all real, all to be cherished. But the finger points beyond itself. Every gift is an arrow. The arrow's purpose is not itself — it is the target. And the target is God Himself.
Innumerable Benefits
Food, sunlight, air. Essential to bodily life. Every breath a gift. Every ray of light an arrow aimed at the Giver. The list has no end because the generosity has no end.
Dignity, Wisdom, Virtue
The three highest gifts. Freedom to choose. Knowledge that this freedom is not your own. The seeking that will not let go. The complete movement of the soul. There is no true life without them.
Cherish Without Neglect
The gifts are real. Cherish them. But do not stop at the gifts. Every gift is an arrow. The arrow's purpose is the target. And the target is God Himself.