Eighth day of Lent

The phrase "building character" is in my mind today. Perhaps that is because I taught from the book of Romans last night and made reference to Romans 5:3-5, which reads, "And not only that, be we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us."

I suppose all of our lives we are at work "building character." What is it that we are building? I don’t remember who said it, but someone said, "Character is who we are when no one is looking." Of course, it is implied that we are hopefully building "good" character. That is the role of parents – to build character. And then that role is turned over to us. Hopefully, we will build upon a good foundation laid by our parents and make good character.

The problem is that not everybody gets that good foundation. I was fortunate. I thank God for my parents. Even with their imperfect ways of parenting (there is no such thing as a perfect parent - I really didn’t realize this until I became one), they gave me a good foundation. They instilled in me values of God and Christ. Even at times, they put "the fear of God" in me. And I’m not sure that’s bad either. I feel for those who have not had a solid foundation for building good character.

As I continue to look within during this Lenten Season, I can still see some construction work that needs to be done. It is the little things that can eat away at character like termites at a house. Someone asked me to do something, and I said that I didn’t have the time. That wasn’t true. The truth is I didn’t want to do it so I told a "white lie" to excuse my way out of something I didn’t want to do - a termite to my character.

Lord, help me to continue to be open to your construction of my character. Thank you for the foundation built by my parents and by countless other witnesses of good character that have crossed my life’s path. Be about the business of exposing the termites that might be eating away at the good character you desire for me. Thank you for pouring your love into my heart through the Holy Spirit that has been given to all of us.