Wonderful insight as always! How to build that character in modern society with so many messages bombarding us on so many levels? How can youth, especially, parse it out and make sense of it? The timeless, “Know Thyself” slogan is a great place to start, but that really needs to be instilled/distilled within the family at an early age. I surmise most people do not even know what “Know Thyself” means. The educational system in this country does not teach it… even religious institutions do not teach it really. The message is usually about following the rules, not realizing your intuition has a moral compass that is probably better suited for personal progress. I have found that meditation is a good place to start on that journey towards self realization, where character can be built from the inside out. Sounds like the General found the gold inside himself... looking forward to learning more about his journey.
I enjoyed and appreciated your post on character. It's a great reminder to ourselves to consider and focus on our character and to be fully involved in life and living with and for those around us and in our community. The church traditionally has carried a large part of this role previously but is once again in decline and influence. Recently, the prevalence and pervasive advertising of gambling in all sports and even blowing your money on and inside silly little games (hello Paris) has given me an increased feeling of doom for our American society (general decadence and decline of morality) as if we've finally reached the proverbial tipping point. Your post has reminded me that a focus on character, one person at a time, could possibly save us. Thank you.
This is an incredible piece - the kind I will print, reread, and share. It's all content we know, yet your talent, Jeff, is putting it in a way that we can access and actually use in our lives. To be reminded of this now is perfect timing. All school leaders will benefit from this. I will do my best to share with those people. Thank you, friend. It's an honor to know you.
I've been writing online for 13 years. Incidentally, you were the first person to give me permission to call myself a writer. Over the years, I've wondered why I kept wrestling words when so few people read them. I knew obedience to the God who'd called me was a big part of it, but I've always known it was something more personal, and your post expresses it perfectly. I can't not be who I am, even if only for me. Thanks for sharing.
Wow. To go on the Internet and see a long essay on character is (at least for me) rare these days. Thanks for this. I am a Christian. As a result of that I have been pursuing “character” my whole life. I believe it comes from God. Alas, one old guy told me after I gave my testimony: “Sounds like you have a checkered career.” He was right. This year one of my key Bible verses is James 1:2-4. This passage tells me to not resent trials as intruders but to welcome them as friends. Why? Because they produce the quality of endurance, which this passage says leads to a mature character. Welcoming trouble as a friend is a tall order, but for the first time in my long life I am trying to do this because it develops endurance which leads to character.
Wow, what a great piece…after almost 45 years myself in the military and business worlds, character does count…and separate! That’s the goal, better on the inside, than you look on the outside. I’m gonna buy the book!
Wonderful insight as always! How to build that character in modern society with so many messages bombarding us on so many levels? How can youth, especially, parse it out and make sense of it? The timeless, “Know Thyself” slogan is a great place to start, but that really needs to be instilled/distilled within the family at an early age. I surmise most people do not even know what “Know Thyself” means. The educational system in this country does not teach it… even religious institutions do not teach it really. The message is usually about following the rules, not realizing your intuition has a moral compass that is probably better suited for personal progress. I have found that meditation is a good place to start on that journey towards self realization, where character can be built from the inside out. Sounds like the General found the gold inside himself... looking forward to learning more about his journey.
I enjoyed and appreciated your post on character. It's a great reminder to ourselves to consider and focus on our character and to be fully involved in life and living with and for those around us and in our community. The church traditionally has carried a large part of this role previously but is once again in decline and influence. Recently, the prevalence and pervasive advertising of gambling in all sports and even blowing your money on and inside silly little games (hello Paris) has given me an increased feeling of doom for our American society (general decadence and decline of morality) as if we've finally reached the proverbial tipping point. Your post has reminded me that a focus on character, one person at a time, could possibly save us. Thank you.
7th-graders:
Lord of the Flies!
This is an incredible piece - the kind I will print, reread, and share. It's all content we know, yet your talent, Jeff, is putting it in a way that we can access and actually use in our lives. To be reminded of this now is perfect timing. All school leaders will benefit from this. I will do my best to share with those people. Thank you, friend. It's an honor to know you.
Aw, thank you. Same to you.
What a good post and what a gift it must have been to spend so much time with McChrystal. Thanks for sharing this with us, Jeff.
Thank you for this!
I knew this was going to be Into the Woods when I saw that title. Clearly you're teaching your kid some great lessons.
I've been writing online for 13 years. Incidentally, you were the first person to give me permission to call myself a writer. Over the years, I've wondered why I kept wrestling words when so few people read them. I knew obedience to the God who'd called me was a big part of it, but I've always known it was something more personal, and your post expresses it perfectly. I can't not be who I am, even if only for me. Thanks for sharing.
Wow. To go on the Internet and see a long essay on character is (at least for me) rare these days. Thanks for this. I am a Christian. As a result of that I have been pursuing “character” my whole life. I believe it comes from God. Alas, one old guy told me after I gave my testimony: “Sounds like you have a checkered career.” He was right. This year one of my key Bible verses is James 1:2-4. This passage tells me to not resent trials as intruders but to welcome them as friends. Why? Because they produce the quality of endurance, which this passage says leads to a mature character. Welcoming trouble as a friend is a tall order, but for the first time in my long life I am trying to do this because it develops endurance which leads to character.
Wow, what a great piece…after almost 45 years myself in the military and business worlds, character does count…and separate! That’s the goal, better on the inside, than you look on the outside. I’m gonna buy the book!