More thoughts on moral excellence lead me to the inner self.
What is in your center? Every action, decision, or “doing of good” comes from within first, as a decision or idea. I believe moral excellence is a phrase that covers the “state of the heart” and manifests in doing good. Just “doing” without the right motive is “religiosity” and will eventually lead to a Martha mentality (a lot of anxiety, perfectionism, distraction, and “do-goodering”). See Wisdom Seekers on a Mary Heart.
Luke 6:43-45 says, “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”
Our morality or character is based on our ability to assess what is right and wrong, what is a good choice or bad choice in the moment and then act upon our assessment. For those choices to be excellent, we must be ‘pursue’ excellence. We must desire it.
Meditations from Zion 