Quoting President Lincoln on the importance of character

Nov 04, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor,
A person that is considered to have good character exhibits attributes such as integrity, honesty, courage, loyalty, fortitude, and other important virtues that promote good behaviour and habits. Moreover, character marks who we are as a person, and it also highly influences the choices that we make in our lives. iAbraham Lincoln said, “Reputation is the shadow. Character is the tree.” Our character is much more than just what we try to display for others to see, it is who we are even when no one is watching. Good character is doing the right thing because it is right to do what is right. Many people will display good character traits on the outside of their homes and even at their jobs but they are a completely evil person in their own homes to their wives, husbands or children. They seemed to have a split personality when it comes to the true identity of their attitude and character.
Character is often defined as a collection of personality traits within our behaviour that shows who we are. This is shown in our integrity, attitude, moral fiber, disposition, and this shapes how we treat one another, good or bad. This is mostly true, but it goes much deeper than that. Character is who we are and it can be learned and built when we are in Christ or God fearing. Moreover, real authentic Christian Character is not just a personality or our disposition; it is a description of who we are as a Christian, what we are called to be in our entirety. It encapsulates the Fruit of the Spirit from God’s love and work in us. A good effectual foundation of character is “synergistic” as each one hangs and functions with each other. It is built upon the Fruit of the Spirit which all of the other character traits are codependent and thus function and rest upon. Our Character summarizes the essence of our walk with Christ being exhibited back to Him and then onto others. Our Character can grow or shrivel as our growth and faith formation in Christ is applied or blocked. Thus, Character is the display case of Christ and shows others our entire lives as Christians.
I observed that when people borrow things like money, books, tapes, etc they never return it unless you ask them. Lending money has created enemies between many families, friends, and even with the banks. I also have experience with many educated people who will borrow things but never return them. Many academics will not reply to your emails, nor return a phone call, nor even your face book inbox messages they always find a reliable lie as an excuse or some dead apology.
Why is that so? It’s because people have inculcated deceptive character traits from a very young age and refused to be corrected thus they ended up doing more deceptive and atrocious acts though they are educated because bad characteristics is a learned attitude also from evil company; it’s important we chose our company wisely because some company can influence you to do more bad than good. So many people in the world today and in Guyana live a life of ‘self denial’
They never want to accept who they are when confronted with the truth. I saw a guy I know smoking weed while I was riding in my community, when I approached him he throw away the weed but was bold to tell me he doesn’t smoke weed though it was still smelling heavily on him. There are many rich people in very high society who are hooked on drugs, alcohol and cigarettes but simply won’t accept a fact that they are an addict and need to change. They lie to themselves and lie to others even their doctors. So many people today think or believe they are too big or educated to be corrected my father used to tell me: ‘correction makes a man.’
Pride destroyed a lot of people because they always think they know it better than anyone else. So many greedy, covetous, proud and jealous people I have corrected over the years who refused correction, I have seen destroyed. Life is about choices we make and we will reap the consequences whether good or bad; it’s so sad over 80% of the people in the world today always make bad choices particularly in marriage.
Building and developing character is not something we just learn from a book or hear from a sermon. It does not come upon us in the night, or sneak up in the day. It does not come automatically, accidentally, or suddenly. It is a process that comes from being parented in it. Then it rests in us and in our motives. It is a slow process. You may not realize you have it until others point it out in you. Character is not permanent once it is formed. It requires our continual hold and practice, in God’s Word, through our prayers and the practice of His Fruit in and through us. If we can develop good character traits and attitude we will live in a country of peace, love and harmony.
Rev. Gideon Cecil

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