(a 5 minute read)   Jay and Brad, buddies for ages, were chit chatting. Brad said that a few days ago, half way to work he realized he forgot his cell phone. Frustrated, he turned around to go back to get it. On his way, he spotted their coworker Simon on the side of the highway. Simon was out of his car heading to an older gentleman that is walking on the shoulder of the highway. There was no other car there but Simon’s.

Brad:     I was struck by the scene. It is freezing outside. Why is Simon heading to a stranger on the side of the highway, and why is that older man without a car?

Jay:        That is puzzling. Maybe the man’s car broke down back there somewhere and he was trying to get to a place to call for assistance

Brad:     Come on Jay, even older people now carry cell phones

Jay:        Maybe he forgot his at home     (Jay and Brad laughed out loud)

Brad:     Seriously now, who stops in this day and age for strangers on a highway buzzing with cars

Jay:        You and I know Simon enough to know that Simon is that kind of guy

Brad:     You are correct. So many people admire Simon, as he is indeed a man of character

Jay:        Simon probably saw a man walking on the highway, stopped to see if he could be of assistance

Brad:     It is encouraging to see that there are still people like Simon out there, isn’t it

 

Character is an opinion formed by someone about someone else. It is a description of someone by someone else. I hope we all agree that such opinion is formed by observing that someone’s behavior over time. You have probably seen this sentence before, but please read it intently and I hope you believe it to be true;

Thoughts lead to actions – Actions lead to habit – Habit leads to character

It is not only action, but habit which is a continual action of the same, that will lead others to observe or characterize one’s character, no pun intended.

Words express thoughts, and we all have words. Many a time we stop at words and thoughts, as somehow we believe that if we’re not hurting anyone else and say or think the ‘right’ stuff, then that’s great. If our actions do not express and define our words and thoughts, then no one will observe or form an opinion of character about us!

Interestingly, a group of people is characterized by others at the sum of the individual characters in that group.

So although it is not about me, it is me that forms the opinion about my group!

Do you belong to a group, a group of faith maybe? I do. I am part of the Christian community.

How is our group characterized by the world around us?? Please do not dismiss the view of the world about Christians, or think that the world is out to get us. The world around us has simply formed their opinion about our collective character observing us for 2,000 years. Hope you can accept that a 2,000 year observation is a non-biased opinion.

I want Christianity to have a better, a way much better, character than what’s out there now.

Do you?

It is a process that requires commitment, dedication and persistence. And every step involves action, and continual action at that. Are you up for the task? Our collective character reflects our God, our Creator and our Lord’s Character. This is a fact.

This action is action where you are at any moment of the day, and does not require any additional time of yours. Act where you are is the motto.

Forgive me as all I am offering here is words and thoughts.

For our group’s character to change, in my opinion, a movement is needed. A movement from within the church. A movement of collaboration.

A movement of humility, as humility is the spark that will ignite change. A change in our collective character as Christians. A change over time that can be observed by others, and their observations will lead them to see the LOVE of GOD in our lives. Thus lead them to want to know this Lord and Creator of everything. That His love supersedes and surpasses all else.

Why would they want to do that?

Because His ambassadors are a reflection of Him. “I want to be like them”, is what they will feel, say, express and want. I believe that you believe that this is indeed what God has always intended for his creation to be, an example.

This is an invitation for action, for a movement. Till next week 🙂