Volume XXII, Number 10 (Issue 1066) March 4, 2024
Ten Things that Matter
The other day I came upon a statement in a book I was reading that went something like this, “the character of our leaders matters.” The significance of that comment was not lost on me then, nor has it been far from my thoughts since. In fact, the more I have reflected on that remark, the more relevant it seems to be, particularly in view of all the nastiness and intentional mischaracterizations we are being subjected to in this election cycle. We can add to the obvious shortfall in character the feet of clay so many public figures seem to have these days. But it need not remain so.
If you are willing to defer to the National Honor Society as a reasonable arbiter on the topic of character, that body says there are six pillars that have proven to be central to being someone of good character. Those six are respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring, and citizenship. I am willing to get behind that construct.
Yet as today’s title suggests, character is not the only thing that matters. The totality of my life experiences has taught me there are other things that should matter to each of us including education, faith, family, friendships, gratitude, legacy, love, opportunity, and reputation.
I do not think it necessary for me to unpack the other nine in the same way the NHS addressed character. However, I would like to comment on a couple of them and what better place to begin than education. A quality education prepares you to compete in the real world. Beyond that, it opens doors. Like so many of you, I stand as living proof of the value of what a first-rate education can do. I do not think I need to say much about faith, family, and friendships other than those three things ground us, inform us, support us, and hopefully help motivate us.
Gratitude, on the other hand, is well worth discussing if only because we would do well to acknowledge that not one of us is self-made nor can we
claim sole credit for what we have accomplished in life. Each of us should count our many blessings and freely give thanks to all who have helped us get where we are.
Where we are and where we go speaks to the heart of the legacy we leave behind for subsequent generations. If we are of good character, future generations still find reason to thank us for what we have done rather than blame us for the choices we have made and the things they will have to deal with as a consequence.
Of all the words in the list, love is the one that can be most confounding. Part of the problem with the word love is we routinely connect it to a host of things as well as our feelings for individuals. It is a prime example of the ways in which the English language is truly messy. The ancient Greeks, I am told, understood love far better than do we. Thus, they had five different words that represented love and each of its unique applications and connotations. Nonetheless, love in all its contexts matters.
That leaves opportunity and reputation. Opportunity is something we owe to everyone. Combine education with opportunity and you create possibilities capable of changing lives and producing better outcomes. Last but far from least is reputation. As we all know, it is hard earned and easily lost. Our reputation, good or bad, is what either grants or forestalls the opportunities each of us is afforded. And, in the end, it is what others will remember most about us.
Soli Deo Gloria
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8
J. Keith Hughey
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E-mail: keith@jkeithhughey.com
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