11.16.08
The Truth
“He who steals my purse steals trash! It is something, it is nothing. It was mine, now is his and has been slave to thousands. But he who steals from me my good name, robs me of that which enriches him not…but makes me poor indeed!”
The very profound words of William Shakespeare says it all, your name is everything you’ve got. Forget the overrated riches and popularity, these are just superfluities of life that cloud our mind with a blurry vision of the big picture. If ever there were a guideline that governed the way people lived and related to one another, it should be the thought of those words that will eventually be said over your dead body in the name of an eulogy. What do we want to be remembered as? Who would we influence the most during our limited time here? How many lives will we touch positively?
Gone are the days where virtues were cherished and admired. In this fast-paced environment and technology driven society we call ours today, they is just laughed at. Meekness, fortitude, prudence, faith, patience and justice (to mention a few), are virtues that are often taken for weakness nowadays. The old adage, “once bitten, twice shy” has forced many to consciously shape their behavior to reflect a more stern and hardened individual, so as to gain immediate respect from all that they come across. Really guys…how smart is that? That we strategically kill our natural inclination and display of Christ-like character in order to instill fear, respect or seek adoration of mere mortals, is simply ludicrous.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with gracefulness. There is nothing wrong with a perpetual display of patience and kindness. There should be nothing wrong with being exactly who you are and ignoring the negativity that surrounds you. There should be nothing wrong with tactfully surrounding yourself with knowledge and truth in order to shape your character into ‘Mr. perfect’ or ‘Ms. perfect’. They say perfection is a myth. However, I truly believe that the mere strife to attain it, is perfection itself. It is very possible to have a million friends and none at the same time, and for many, that is indeed our story.
True relationships are characterized by a true display of affection or emotions. This entire script focused on the essence of our being and reason for our differences…our character. However, if every reader took precious time to indulge in introspective analysis of self, you would realize that the terms of ALL your relationships were instated by who you are. Would it not be wise then, to build better relationships by starting from within? Every journey begins with a step and charity certainly begins at home.
Don’t stop using your mind folks…and while you’re at it, let us hear some of your thoughts. I leave you with a fascinating quote gotten from the e-mail signature of a good friend.
“Guard your thoughts because they become your words. Guard your words because they become your actions. Guard your actions because they become your character. Guard your character because it determines your destiny!”
Now that’s a good place to begin…
