Both Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Albert Einstein made compelling observations about character.
That the premiere theologian and the premiere scientist, in our time, would concur on the centrality of character is more than a wee bit significant!
Dr. King said "I look to the day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
Dr. Einstein said that "It is the moral qualities of its leading personalities that are perhaps of even greater significance for a generation and for the course of history than purely intellectual accomplishments. Even these latter are, to a far greater degree than is commonly credited, dependent on the nature of character."
So, what is character? Character is that imprint of aggregate traits and features of a person, thing, or group which uniquely marks or distinguishes each or them particularly.
Character is one's essence or one's soul; where flesh meets spirit, and where culture meets context, in a given time and place; it is who we are bereft of buffers, masks, aliases.
The ancient injunction "Man, know thyself!", is addressed to the soul or to the character of that person.
I discovered my character during "sensitivity sessions" in high school, which were held at a remote lodge deep in the Missouri woods along with certain classmates, in 1968. These sessions typically lasted 8-12 hours or longer, were moderated; and were intensely introspective. At the end of it, through dynamic group conversations and self-examination among ourselves, one was left raw.
Often tears would flow, but at the end, you were cleansed enough to understand yourself clearly, and, as importantly, to understand all others; and they to understand you, in a sort of a cosmic human two-way mirror.
I personally benefited greatly from this process, as did others privy to this spiritually liberating process.
Character defines and reminds us of our identity, our affinity, and our purpose on this planet through love: love of self; love of others; love of life; love of nature; and love of God.
Do you know who you are deep down, and why you are here at this place and time? Seek your character, your soul, your foundation stone, your essential essence: to feel, to know, to understand the unique answers to questions of the who and why of you!
Sunday, June 29, 2014
YOUR CHARACTER AND MINE
YOUR CHARACTER AND MINE
Both Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Albert Einstein made compelling observations about character.
That the premiere theologian and the premiere scientist, in our time, would concur on the centrality of character is more than a wee bit significant!
Dr. King said "I look to the day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
Dr. Einstein said that "It is the moral qualities of its leading personalities that are perhaps of even greater significance for a generation and for the course of history than purely intellectual accomplishments. Even these latter are, to a far greater degree than is commonly credited, dependent on the nature of character."
So, what is character? Character is that imprint of aggregate traits and features of a person, thing, or group which uniquely marks or distinguishes each or them particularly.
Character is one's essence or one's soul; where flesh meets spirit, and where culture meets context, in a given time and place; it is who we are bereft of buffers, masks, aliases.
The ancient injunction "Man, know thyself!", is addressed to the soul or to the character of that person.
I discovered my character during "sensitivity sessions" in high school, which were held at a remote lodge deep in the Missouri woods along with certain classmates, in 1968. These sessions typically lasted 8-12 hours or longer, were moderated; and were intensely introspective. At the end of it, through dynamic group conversations and self-examination among ourselves, one was left raw.
Often tears would flow, but at the end, you were cleansed enough to understand yourself clearly, and, as importantly, to understand all others; and they to understand you, in a sort of a cosmic human two-way mirror.
I personally benefited greatly from this process, as did others privy to this spiritually liberating process.
Character defines and reminds us of our identity, our affinity, and our purpose on this planet through love: love of self; love of others; love of life; love of nature; and love of God.
Do you know who you are deep down, and why you are here at this place and time? Seek your character, your soul, your foundation stone, your essential essence: to feel, to know, to understand the unique answers to questions of the who and why of you!
Both Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Albert Einstein made compelling observations about character.
That the premiere theologian and the premiere scientist, in our time, would concur on the centrality of character is more than a wee bit significant!
Dr. King said "I look to the day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
Dr. Einstein said that "It is the moral qualities of its leading personalities that are perhaps of even greater significance for a generation and for the course of history than purely intellectual accomplishments. Even these latter are, to a far greater degree than is commonly credited, dependent on the nature of character."
So, what is character? Character is that imprint of aggregate traits and features of a person, thing, or group which uniquely marks or distinguishes each or them particularly.
Character is one's essence or one's soul; where flesh meets spirit, and where culture meets context, in a given time and place; it is who we are bereft of buffers, masks, aliases.
The ancient injunction "Man, know thyself!", is addressed to the soul or to the character of that person.
I discovered my character during "sensitivity sessions" in high school, which were held at a remote lodge deep in the Missouri woods along with certain classmates, in 1968. These sessions typically lasted 8-12 hours or longer, were moderated; and were intensely introspective. At the end of it, through dynamic group conversations and self-examination among ourselves, one was left raw.
Often tears would flow, but at the end, you were cleansed enough to understand yourself clearly, and, as importantly, to understand all others; and they to understand you, in a sort of a cosmic human two-way mirror.
I personally benefited greatly from this process, as did others privy to this spiritually liberating process.
Character defines and reminds us of our identity, our affinity, and our purpose on this planet through love: love of self; love of others; love of life; love of nature; and love of God.
Do you know who you are deep down, and why you are here at this place and time? Seek your character, your soul, your foundation stone, your essential essence: to feel, to know, to understand the unique answers to questions of the who and why of you!