People with the character trait of peacefulness are often seen as weak rather than strong. But real peacefulness is anything but weak. In fact, conflict is an easy thing compared to constructiveness. Bridges are much easier to blow up than to build.
Though we don’t know what tomorrow will bring, there are good reasons to anticipate it. Like the inquisitive children we used to be, we should want to learn more than we know and do more than we’ve done. There’s a bit of the adventurer in all of us.
We need, certainly, to work on being able to teach, inspire, and encourage. But, personally, I also want to be able to amuse. And those whom I count as my dearest friends are those whom I know I can amuse now and then. How about you?
In persuasion, our character is important. What we “are” speaks loudly. Even if our convictions are passionately held, if our character is out of sync with our convictions, our hypocrisy will become evident (eventually) and people won’t be persuaded.
We need to choose the “sources” of our thinking carefully. And we need to honor our sources. Above all, we need to live with consistent integrity to our sources — so that the excellence of “where we’re coming from” will radiate to those around us.
Making amends is one of the most difficult things in life, but it’s also one of the most important. The making of amends is something we should do regularly. Timely amendments are a part of the maintenance that keeps our relationships working.
Without good stewardship of our resources, we won’t be able to do as much good with them as we should. So we need to be economical. Learning self-denial and restraint, we need to avoid waste and practice the principles of wise conservation.
Emotions and appetites are good things that can serve us well, but not unless they’ve been trained to do so. Much that is good about life depends upon freedom, and there is no freer person than the one who has learned how to use the word “no.”
Great good comes from turning off the chatter and just listening. In particular, we need to listen to our consciences. Often, our consciences have crucial things to say to us, but we can’t hear them because there’s too much noise. We need to listen!
While it’s true that our words to others must sometimes take the form of criticism, when it comes to sheer power, criticism is no match for praise. “Praise can give criticism a lead around the first turn and still win the race” (Bern Williams).
A Christian is a loyal subject in God’s kingdom, joyfully accepting all that Jesus taught about God’s rule in our lives. Jesus Christ did not fail. He began His kingdom, ...