Character

Had a four-hour(!) conversation with a soul sister today (yesterday?), talking about many things and nothing-s, about direction and discernment and men and character.

Character. Phillips Brooks said that "character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones." Some people live only in the "greatness" of their moments; sadly, they fall short in the humdrum of everyday, although this is what counts the most. I saw this poster that tells of "men of character" in the parish office of Abatan in Benguet, and every word rings true.

"THE WORLD NEEDS MEN...
who cannot be bought;
whose word is their bond;
who put character above wealth;
who possess opinions and a will;
who are larger than their vocations;
who do not hesitate to take chances;
who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
who will be as honest in small things as in great things;
who will make no compromise with wrong;
whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
who will not say they do it 'because everybody else does it';
who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as in prosperity;
who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success;
who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular;
who can say 'no' with emphasis, although all the rest of the
world says 'yes.'"

And may their tribe increase and prosper.