How often do you think about character? I mean really think about it. Parents and teachers, if you weren’t teaching it to young people, how often would it cross your mind? Employers and employees, do you give it more than a fleeting thought now and then?
Character – do you think about it? Do you think about it often, seldom, or not at all? Do you think about it enough to embrace it? Do you think about it enough to want it in your life? Has character gotten into your heart to an extent that it actually affects what you do?
Character, or whatever occupies your mind, changes you. You are molded by the thoughts to which you give priority. Whatever matters most to you, whatever you hold dear to your heart, gradually changes you from what you once were to what you will become. Many old fables recognize this. Parables speak about it, and famous teachers from ancient days have long taught this truth.
A verse in the Holy Bible, Luke 6:45 reads, “”The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”
Character – do you talk about it? The words that most often come out of your mouth usually agree with what fills your heart. Only men and women who spend a lot of time thinking about character are likely to get it into their hearts. Only those whose hearts are filled with character will talk about it often.
You’ve no doubt met the man who is always talking about sports. You’ve listened to the woman who just can’t stop telling you about her children. In your life, there may be a teenager who raves about the latest music. You might have a little boy in your preschool who spends every waking moment talking about dinosaurs. All are showing what is in their hearts. All are showing what they think about – what has priority in their thinking.
Character – do you act on it? That’s where the rubber meets the road. Some people think about character quite a bit – perhaps because they are paid to do so. They are guidance counselors in schools, and teaching character consumes hours of every week. They are forced to think about it, so they do. They may reach a point where they spend so much time thinking about character in preparation for teaching that it begins to occupy increasing amounts of their talk. They think about character and they talk about character.
The question is, “Do they act on their knowledge?” Do they give priority to character in their daily lives, or are they all hot air? How many qualities from a list of character traits do you see at work in their lives? Do they so seriously want to turn their thoughts and words into strong character that they order self-help books on character for their own growth? Do they long so much to see their teenagers build strong character that they order books for teens that will subtly, but surely teach strong character?
Character – do you think about it, talk about it, and act on it? It can transform your life in positive ways, but only if you treasure it in your heart. The only other option is to think about those things that lack moral excellence – and become like those. I personally prefer character, don’t you?
That’s the view from my chair. What’s your view?