Arete (Greek: ἀρετή; pronounced /ˈærəteɪ/ in English) in its basic sense means "goodness", "excellence" or "virtue" of any kind.

We had a meeting with a small group this week and the topic of Success came up. So many churches preaching that you can be a success. The result of such preaching was express by the group with interesting feedback.

Most of the group felt the preaching of success only made them feel under pressure. They didn't feel motivated or encouraged, they only felt that they were expected to be a success. That this success required them to give more time than was healthy, work longer hours, wear 'successful' clothes, speak like 'successful' people. They voiced that even if they did feel motivated the feeling was fleeting and in the event they didn't achieve alot they felt worse than before.

We then started to define 'success' and many were encouraged by redefining success as not achieve excellence close to perfection, but excellent excellence in doing everything with your heart in the right place. Doing things with your best in mind, being excellent to one another, being virtuous and honest in your day to day dealings.

This is success not confused by the clothes that you wear, the people you hang with, or the car you drive. Rather it is a state of relationship with God and each other. A focus to do everything with Love and a focus on doing things as best you can. With an excellent approach.

I am not sure I have articulated this as well as I might but hopefully you get the point. The bottom line was take the pressure off and turn the love on. I can only conclude that this pressure is in part a miscommunication from the pulpit, very unintentional, but an evident side effect.

Feel free to comment on this one.