Character Matters

As I was driving to work this morning, sports talk radio was discussing the allegations against Lawrence Taylor. The focus of that discussion was whether character should be a considered in Hall of Fame voting, or if someone can be removed from the Hall of Fame because of questionable behavior later in life. I was disappointed in the number of people (including the radio hosts) that felt that a person should be judged solely by his performance on the field.

What message does that send to our children? As long as you are a great athelete, a phenomenal performer, or a wizard on Wall Street, somehow those issues should be viewed independently of your character. In the classic flim, "Chariots of Fire," one of the Olympic committed noted that Eric Liddle's running was an extension of his character. The two were inexplicitlly connected. Liddle's life, dedication to others and self-sacrifcie were "hall of fame performances" more than any gold trinket or cup that set on his Edinburgh sideboard.

I applaud Roger Goodell's approach since he has become commissioner of the NFL. He has made it clear that being part of the professional football fraternity is a priviledge that carries a corresponding responsibility. What you do off the field matters. Ben Rothlesburger, Brian Cushing, Michael Vick and Pacman Jones have all learned there is a price to pay for inappropriate conduct. In each cases above the conduct of these men impacted their teams.

From the time my children were small I tried to encourage them to pick hereos that were men of character. It didn't matter if they won a superbowl, held the record for sacking the quarterback or hit 70 home runs in a season - who they are is more important than what they can do on the field. We are sending a very bad message to our youth, if you are big enough, strong enough, fast enough and talented enough it doesn't matter what your character is, someone will pay you the big bucks.

I hear people praise the Nick Saban's and John Calipari's of the world because they are winners. It doesn't matter that they failed to meet their commitments to other programs, engaged in recruiting violations, or lied to the media - they are winners. When we give them a pass because they bring our teams a victory, we are no better than they are.

Character Matters and that should include the Hall of Fame.

Friendships

As I contemplate 51 years on this planet the first thing that came to my mind are the friendships that have enriched my life. For all the time I spent working to accumulate STUFF - not a single posession I have ever owned came to my mind. Cars, motorcycles, houses and land haven't left even the smallest dent on my memory, but the people I have known, loved and shared life with are my most treasured posessions.

When I got up this morning I opened my Facebook account to a host of "Happy Birthday" notices from friends past and present. Each little icon with a picture of a friendship I made brought back fond memories of a rich and full life. All too often we take those things for granted.

Darlene, the little girl who lived next door as a child. My first childhood sweetheart and the girl who saved my life when I was four. Joe, my friend through most of my grade-school years. We lost touch for over a decade before reconnecting a few years back. Jim, my college room mate, friend and hiking buddy. The people in towns where I preached, the touch-points with people on mission trips, the romances and heartaches life all included people and not things.

I have bought and sold STUFF my whole life. Things I thought I had to have ended up in garage sales or the trash can. Cars that I thought defined me instead brought debt, frustration, and disappointment. The latest electronics that were essential to business success are now outdated and sitting in a drawer somewhere, but my friends endure and enrich my life. Like a fine wine their value increases each and every year. No investment in my life has brought greater returns than those people I call my friends.

So as I contemplate being 51 - today is not about me, but about each of you who have made my life better. Thank you and God bless you!

Choices?

So do you believe that life is the result of the choices we make, or the values, actions and behavior of others? Do you tell yourself that life would be different if others changed their behavior, or do you believe that life changes when we change ourselves?

It's naive' to think that we live life in a vacuum - that the actions and behaviors of others have no affect on the outcomes in our lives. We also have to be careful not to allow external circumstances to define who we are on the inside. Alexander Solzhenitsn continued his public dissent though exiled to the Russian Gulag. Nelson Mandella, Victor Frankl, even Peter, James and John refused to have their voices silenced by the persecution and opposition of others.

The actions and behaviors of others may rob you of certain liberties, but the choices you make define who you are on the inside. That is something that no can take away from you - it is only lost when you surrender your values and blame your circumstances for what you have become.