Skip to main content

Thoughts on Character

1. Ralph Waldo Emerson once penned these words (or something close to it): “Do not say things. What you are stands over you the while and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary.” In other words, a person’s actions will tell much more about her than her words. We know others by their courage or their cowardice, by their diligence or their idleness, and by their kindness or their cruelty. Interestingly enough, we find we are inspired by the courageous, diligent, and kind of heart; and yet turned away by the cowardly, idle, and cruel. Why is this true? I believe it is because we see something in the former that we seek for ourselves. We want to become more than we are, and when we see others who personify that dream, we are moved to action.

2. The word character originally referred to the mark that was fashioned by an engraving tool; specifically, the mark you found on a coin. This is a telling definition, because it implies that the qualities that make us who we are can never be formed by us alone. Like an engraving, our character is always defined, always fashioned, by something outside of ourselves. If this seems a fatalistic view, then understand that we very much have a choice about what we allow to define us. Will we listen to other people’s criticism, or will we choose to hear their encouragement, however faint the sound may sometimes be?

3. Perhaps one of the most difficult things in life is to be honest, both with others and– especially– with yourself. The honest person, however, is a person of insight. This person knows, above all, that there is more at stake than gaining what lies directly in front of you, and sees that personal integrity– whatever the risk– is of greater worth than that which tempts you at the moment.

4. Generosity is often thought of in financial terms. When we think of being generous, we think of giving our money to a person or cause; and why not? This is among the most tangible and visible ways to be generous. There is, however, another variety of generosity that, if you’ve seen it in action, is no less giving and no less kind. It is a generosity of spirit, a gift of the self that involves time, energy, and perhaps most importantly, position. It sends the message that your needs are as important as—or even more important than-- my own.

5. We take it for granted that some of the quietest things in our world are also some of the most powerful. The moon, silent as it is to us, exerts great force on our oceans and lights an otherwise dark sky. The wind is heard only by the objects it passes, and yet its consistent, pounding force can uproot even the most venerable trees. Even a simple gesture—like a smile—makes no sound, and yet if it is genuine, it has the power to change the heart of even the most stoic, unfeeling person.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pleasure

*Note: In the following post, I am heavily influenced by a pastor named Bob Shirock. Specifically, Shirock writes about Solomon's response to the pleasures he experienced in life in Ecclesiastes, and observes that we can enjoy pleasures in life if we accept them as God's gifts, and if we express our gratitude in their enjoyment. He cites Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 and 1 Timothy 4:1-5. I’ve noticed something about pleasure: the highs can be followed by lows. This sounds obvious, but what I mean is that times of joy and fun in life's pleasures are wonderful, and can lift your spirits for a time, but they can be followed by a disappointment that comes from the realization that they are short-lived and will not satisfy us in the long-term. I’m calling this a pleasure hangover. We gain happiness for a time, but see that this happiness is temporary. We therefore feel a subsequent low that leaves us still longing. It reminds me of a theme in the life of C.S. Lewis: sehnsucht , or a wist...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ghosts

Exercising at a gym seems to be pretty important in our culture, but it's kind of weird to see the social dynamics when you're there. Usually, if you're running an errand, you see others doing the same thing, going about their days and focusing on what's in front of them. The same thing happens at the gym, only everyone is relatively stationary. They don't really go anywhere, except from one machine or area to another. One might think this lends itself to lots of interaction between members, especially since they're all there for the same purpose, but it isn't true. Not only do people generally avoid talking to one another, but they also avoid even looking at one another. It is as though there is no one else there, even though there are dozens on any given day. Most people follow this unwritten rule, unless something in the environment-- say, two people wanting to use the same set of weights-- gives them common ground to interact, or unless they've alr...
2 comments
Read more

End of an Era

It was over two years ago that I joined an experiment that would last until last July, an experiment that would significantly change me and the eleven others involved. That experiment was the creation of a new church comprised of twelve members whose purpose was to serve the people of downtown Stockton. Most attractive to me about it was that half of our income would be used in some way outside the church, to benefit the local community or to aid in international assistance. In that span of time, we did in fact serve in ways we'd envisioned. One of our first events was a pizza and school supplies giveaway (coupled with games for the kids who came) toward the end of our first summer. Many of those who came seemed genuinely happy at this. Through that year, we also hosted an event called a "card me house party," wherein each person's ticket to the event was a gift card. Once inside, chips could be purchased to play card and other games, with the resulting collection g...
1 comment
Read more