Tag Archives: character

Uncommon Character

June 15, 2010

Once we have experienced a high of any nature we immediately want to recreate the experience or seek a way to live in that state of euphoria. Whether spiritual or physical, mankind was not made to live in a perpetual state of excitement or nirvana.

There are times when our flames burn so brightly we no longer see our circumstances beyond the brilliance of their light. When we experience a supernatural communion with God in those rare mountain-peak moments we may feel a bit deflated when our feet return to earth and our spirit to this plane alone.

Consuming Flame

Consumed by Addiction

Physical highs are much the same whether induced by alcohol or chemicals. Addicts gradually lose their ‘try’ as they seek again and again to find the place of ecstasy. The flames of their unnatural experience burn so brightly they are unable to see the true state of their lives. Observers watch them and note with an emotion somewhere on a scale between pity and disgust as the one on a perpetual high slowly shrivels and is consumed up by the constant fueling of their flame.

Mankind was not made to live on a high. Rare moments of maximum experience are gifts. They are not meant to be commonplace. The path that seeks this constant flame of experience is the path that leads to eventual cremation.

Life isn't built at the top.

The hottest romances have the shortest history. Rich marriages are built on the stuff of every day. The most beloved memories are cumulative, not of any one instant. The partnership that produces gold medal performances by a horse and rider are formed by their daily routine, not by the heights of competition.

Inspiration is received in moments. Character comes from building day-after-day habits and by finding excellence in the commonplace.

Uncommon Character

The level planes of daily life between the mountain peaks of exhilaration are what allow us to form habits and prevent us from an early flame-out. Be grateful for the commonplace. Our lives are built on the solid foundation of the commonplace world. Without this firm support we would be in danger of falling off one of those peaks we desire.

Develop character. Build solid foundations. Take a lesson from the wise horse; revel in routine.

King of the Hill

On the top of the mountain there is only room for one. All our human relationships play out on the broad plains of life. Take a lesson from the childhood game King of the Hill. There is only room at the top for one. And once the peak is achieved, everyone else tries to push you off.

Of course God can be found on the peak of the mountain. But then, He is everywhere.

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Wild horses and hungry children…

February 3, 2010

How often has the question been asked, “Why does God let bad things happen?” Pictures and reports of the torture and abuse of both children and animals tear at our hearts. The most normal reaction in the world is to turn away, to change the channel, to mute the volume, until the evidence of horror is gone for the moment.

The nature of my work brings me reportage of gross cruelty to animals daily – especially horses. I, too, click frantically to remove the evidence from my computer screen. Like most others, I find the images hard to deal with. I don’t have enough money to save them all. We can’t rescue every pair of innocent eyes that seem to look directly into our soul, hoping for a connection that will bring a savior.

Wild horse trio

Homeless

Our hearts are meant to be torn

Humans and animals were created by God to live together in peace and harmony. It was the free will of man that caused the blood to flow, both literally and figuratively.

As Christians our hearts are meant to be torn, to bleed, when we witness the cruelty of man. But even in this, there is a promise; that our hearts will never be broken beyond repair. Should we not react viscerally to the evil perpetrated on the innocent, we would not be truly human, chosen members of the family of God.

God offered paradise. Man rejected God’s plan, thinking he had a better one. As is always the result, the innocent suffered, beginning with Abel who fell by his brother’s hand.

Video of hungry children anywhere is painful. The tragic circumstances of the wild horses of the western United States is currently front and center in the picture of man’s failure. The commercials that air on TV to request donations for the tortured and abused dogs and cats of our nation are painful to watch. They are meant to be painful.

We are not home yet

Children of God don’t run from this pain. It serves as a reminder of our failure; evidence of man’s arrogance, pride, and revolt. It also reveals a higher nature, one that is connected to a higher Spirit. Our present pain only reminds us that we are not home yet.

On Their Way Home

On Their Way Home

Character, conviction, and the actions they birth are the result of overcoming failure, both ours personally and that of mankind’s history. How do we do that?

First, get in right relationship with God. Exchange the failure of man for the promise and glory of the King. We will live in His kingdom. Only then will the original creation return – peace among all of God’s creatures. Joy will replace sorrow in that morning.

In the meantime, do what you can, when you can, for the children and the animals. Yes, your heart will be torn, but know that no one person can do it all, and God doesn’t expect you to. Bless those around you, both two-legged and four, with love, relationship, time, and care. You are not God. Man has delivered us to this place, but only God can get us out.

And He will. He promised. We have a Savior… that promise has been kept.

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Character and consistency of action go hand-in-hand

October 17, 2009

Any time you take notice of a specific action or occasion of speech it is usually because they were ‘out of charcter’ for the person acting or speaking.

Some parents will list the specific instances when they were “really there” for one of their children. They wonder why the kids aren’t close to them. Look at what they did for those kids! The reason they have a list available for immediate recall is that those benificent actions were not the norm; they were out of character. Sure, the folks did a few nice things for the kids, but they are remarkable only because they stand out as exceptions to the rule.

Bill O’Reilly is known to challenge people who accuse him of acting outside what he considers his normal boundaries to “give me an example.” If they can, then the specific comment was probably out of character.

What we habitually do never creates headlines or brings reward in the routine of our daily lives. It is only when we act or speak out-of-character that the specifics will be remembered.

Our character is formed by repetition of behaviors and thought patterns that become habit. We are how we live. The person who does one outstanding deed often receives the biggest award. The one who consistently serves is frequently overlooked.

Which person would you rather be? Would you rather be of generous character, frequently unnoticed, or have the suitable-for-hanging certificate on your office wall?

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Habits, character and crisis

September 10, 2009

It has always been true that crisis reveals what we are made of; it does not change or add anything. In crisis we revert to habit. Our true character will always come through when we are sorely pressed.

Crisis is defined as danger, whether it is physical, spiritual or emotional. In a crisis, something or someone we care for is in peril. Our ability to defend is entirely based on our habits, our present fitness to do battle.

I took karate lessons for a brief time 36 years ago. Family circumstances prevented me from continuing even though I loved the experience. What I learned is that karate can provide a good defense against attack only if the punches, kicks and blocks are habit – they are so ingrained by repetition and practice that they have become automatic, reflexive reactions to the moves of the enemy. I learned only enough karate to get myself killed had I attempted to rely on it for defense.

Christians can only be centered in crisis when we are centered in Christ. We can be thoughtful and effective in taking action when that is our habit. Otherwise we revert to self-centeredness or a deer-in-the-headlights freeze. In either of these instances we do not provide assistance, we require assistance.

What is your habit?

You never have to get ready for a crisis if you are always ready. Christ will come again in a moment; there will be no further opportunity to get ready. Being ready is a habit, continually practiced and maintained as a skill, just like karate.

The work of rising to the critical occasion is done in the day-to-day workshop of life. Being centered in Christ is done the same way, in the day-to-day expansion and renewal of your relationship with Him.

In crisis you behave as you are, not as you want or hope to be. You are as you live. Your character is reflected in your actions, not your words. If you were to lose your ability to speak, what would you communicate to those around you?

Practice what you hope to be until it becomes habit. Then you will be ready in any crisis.

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Success is a series of moments: stringing beads

July 28, 2009

Success is nothing more than all the beads called ‘now’ strung together. Each bead is itself a goal, a blessing, a purpose. There can be no string of beautiful beads if each one is not properly made and securely tied to the others.

If we learn to get each ‘now’ right, our eventual string will be amazing and distinct from all others. Success is not a destination; it is the journey itself. There is a fine balancing act in creating a successful ‘now’, while yet keeping your feet on the correct path.

There are many beautiful beads: beads made from glass, stone, silver, pearls, gold, gems, wood and clay. All are lovely, unique and distinct in their character.

The daily balancing act each of us has is to create one wonderful bead, yet keep it in relationship to the whole of our string. If we have a string of colorful clay beads, we err by thinking the glass bead in our neighbor’s string is better than ours and try to string one for ourselves. We have then lost the beauty and unity of our own string by copying another’s.

Concentration on even the smallest thing gets more difficult when we begin to gradually create more intricately decorated beads. As distractions multiply, discipline is needed to maintain the character of our ‘nows’. If we concentrate too hard on the bead we plan to make tomorrow, we will probably mess up the one in our hands at the moment. If we worry tomorrow about the flaws in the bead we made today, well, there’s a good chance the next bead will also be flawed.

Christians are ever mindful of the straight path that leads to the narrow gate to Heaven. Each day is a complete life in itself, from the birth of morning when we awake, to the end of the day as our eyes close in sleep. Each day is a bead in our string. While our concentration is on ‘now,’ we still need to be aware of how our string progresses.

Are you stringing your own beads or trying to string someone else’s? Enjoy the process. Live in the now. Stay true to your purpose. I’ll meet you at the gate.

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