Boy, what a character!
Has this ever been said about you?
Does anyone really understand you?
Do you really care if they understand you?
It has been said that by a certain age a child’s character has been formed and in the maturation process, it becomes more evident in the life that is led. With so many horrible instances of hate and murder of late, is there a cure all for what is ailing us?
Yes.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, tells us in Chapter 5:3-4….but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because G__’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. We have a gift inside of us that will never be taken away. If we so choose, we can ignore this gift or we can release it so that it permeates everything that we do in life.
Parents today are so busy with two jobs, outside activities, volunteer work, extra work – the list is endless. Where is the quality time with children? Where did it go? As a servant, we have choices. We can choose to give up our time in service to others or we can keep time only for ourselves. There must be a balance, as we all need that quiet time to think and enjoy our lives.
Ovid told us that “…a faithful study of the liberal arts humanizes character and permits it not to be cruel.” This is getting to know who we are through art, music and literature, as we realize that we are not alone as human beings and that there have been others who have passed this way with the same thoughts. Someone once told me that she wished that she had continued her piano lessons. I asked her if she enjoyed it and her answer was yes. There were too many OTHER things to do at the time.
Have you neglected your soul? Do you listen to the muses within you? Do you sit back in your chair and shed a tear when you hear great literature, great music or see a great painting? We cannot nurture others unless we nurture ourselves. As servants, we take the composite of our life’s experiences and mold them into a character all our own. This is the good, bad, ugly, beautiful, sad, happy and yes, even overlooked events of ourlives.
Aristotle tells us that in a certain sense the several kinds of character are bestowed by nature. Justice, a tendency to Temperance, Courage, and the other types of character are exhibited from the moment of birth. We then must cultivate these traits in order for us to be true servants of our brothers and sisters. Have you had real courage lately? Have you shown justice to someone whom you did not like? Is there love in your heart for others and their misfortunes? Are you overly critical just for the sake of being critical? Are you able to let things go for the good of all? Can you give totally of yourself to others and expect nothing in return except the joy of giving?
The work environment today taxes all of these emotions and we are hit with rapid fire minute by minute. It is so difficult to exhibit our true character when we want to explode. It is so difficult to allow someone else to be a character when we feel that it is a character not worth knowing. Can all characters unite for the good of all?
St. Francis of Assisi, when he was sending his followers out into the world to preach the gospel, told them to absolutely preach the gospel and if it is really necessary, they could use words. When you encounter the bitter and sweet of life, are your reactions the same?
Have you defined your character?
Now, that really is a discussion for another day.
Blessings.