Love & Duty

Having recently viewed a striking rendition of Somerset Maugham's The Painted Veil, I was struck by one scene in particular. Despite being a firm agnostic, Maugham captured the essence of the spiritual life. The scene is between an old French nun and the young Kitty Fane, who had been unfaithful to her husband. The nun recounts how she too fell in love once, but with God, at the tender age of seventeen. And while at first the flame of love was hot, eventually it smoldered and became cold. Love was replaced by duty, and the nun recognized this truth:

"Remember that it is nothing to do your duty, that is demanded of you and is no more meritorious than to wash your hands when they are dirty; the only thing that counts is the love of duty; when love and duty are one, then grace is in you and you will enjoy a happiness which passes all understanding."