SHORT COMMUNICATION 159
Personal Values Cont
By
Roger Behra
All living persons have character. Some persons have outstanding character, while some persons have very poor or evil character, and there is a whole range of character in between. Some persons have a character change in one direction or another. It is a good idea to have a character check every so often in order to change negative character to positive character or upgrade fair character to very good or outstanding character. Character can be a person’s greatest asset or a very big liability.
Character is made up of the qualities that make a person different. It narrows down to ethical behavior. It is made up of the core values and the moral compass a person follows: moral or immoral; honest or dishonest; religious or irreligious. The degree and strength of firmness of the principles and values being practiced is very important. A person with a high degree of strength and firmness of desirable moral values with a moral compass pointed in the right direction without exception has an outstanding character.
Character is very personal, but it is evident for all to see and analyze. It definitely counts culturally, also. So many people in our modern world who are very famous and well known have ruined their careers and legacies because of bad character. Politicians, teachers, famous professional athletes, catholic priests, and people in charge of considerable money to mention a few have ruined their frequently made known on a daily basis.
It is not easy to have outstanding or good character development, because everyone is surrounded by so many temptations and people who have less than good character and who are acceptable in everyday life. It takes a great deal of carefulness in the choice of companions, activities, and with a great amount of God´s graces, helps, and direction. It is everyone’s responsibility to ask God for His help and direction. Ask and you will receive.
The pursuit of excellence never hurts, especially the pursuit of excellent character, regardless of the obstacles that must be faced. The mind, eyes, and heart have to always be focused on how to please God and fit in personally and culturally on a high degree. We must always be focused on the bottom line in life, and that is on what kind of eternity we shall have: a very happy one with God, deceased loved ones, and friends. Good personal values equal good character equal a happy eternity; and these do not happen automatically.
R. B.
3-20-10