Resume Or Eulogy Virtues?

In one of the popular online “TED Talks,” (the nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful orations) author and columnist David Brooks asks, “Should you live for resume virtues, or eulogy virtues?” Brooks describes resume virtues as the skills one brings to the marketplace — typically found on your resume. Eulogy virtues on the other hand are the deeper qualities that are mentioned in one’s eulogy: who are you, in your depth; what is the nature of your relationships; are you loving, dependable, consistent? As Christians, I think most of us would agree with Brooks who asserts that eulogy virtues are the more important. But are they the virtues that we think about the most? Sadly, as Christians, I also think most of us would agree with Brooks when he says the answer is no.

In his talk, Brooks refers to the book “The Lonely Man Of Faith,” by the late rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik who addresses this question saying there…