There has been a lot of discussion about character since President Clinton came to office. The response of the American people has been particularly disturbing. Apparently there are two standards of behavior: public and private. But it would be easier to cut water with a knife than to divide character in two.
We can feel vulnerable because character is not something we can control in others. It is not something someone can develop in a moment of crisis. It must have been integrated into their conduct over time so they can draw on it–life sometimes doesn’t give much chance for thought.
Character is color blind, gender blind, religion blind–it is something we can all agree on. The Bible says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” In other words, a person’s actions will express his beliefs about how he thinks life is to be lived.
Real-life examples of the importance of character abound. You are a black defendant in a courtroom with an all-white jury and you are innocent of the crime of which you are accused. What do you want most of the jurors? The character to stand for what is right, not to be swayed by possible prejudice.
You are a student and you are innocent of what the teacher is accusing you. The only other person besides yourself who knows the truth is a classmate who is definitely not your friend. What do you want most at that moment? For the eyewitness to have the character to be honest and tell the truth of your innocence.
You are a single mother who runs a small business. What do you want most from your accountant? The honesty of character to not embezzle your profits.
When the chips are down in life and our survival is dependent on someone else, it is very often character that will make the difference whether we make it or we don’t. And we cannot turn it on and off like a switch.
We all possess character; the only question is, what kind?
