Character

I can remember a time when character was important. An individual chose a set of values on which to build a life, and putting these values in action built character. The school, the church, the home and the Boy and Girl Scouts were all aids in building character.

You knew that people of character could be trusted. They were responsible, reliable and compassionate. They could certainly be flawed, but character was their life’s rudder and allowed them to stay the course.

Today character has been too often pushed aside by power, wealth and celebrity. These become the things that justify the lack of character. Power, wealth and celebrity are concerns of the individual. Character is concerned with community. Character can’t be bought.

The most obvious example in this regard is the election of Donald Trump. In his actions and in his words, he clearly demonstrated his lack of character in a public way. Yet he was elected to the highest office in the land.

If I were hiring someone for a job, character would be the first thing I would care about. Qualifications and resume later.