The Building Blocks of our Character

We went to a kids recreation area and I was fascinated by how my children were excited to play with wooden building blocks. I guess I'm so used to seeing plastic toys with lots of fancy designs. With the blocks, their imagination started to work and they tried out their own design ideas. With a solid base of blocks, my son was able to build a tower! The simplest of toys gave them great joy and tons of fun.

What is our character made of? What are the values that we consider to be building blocks of who we are? On the surface we can try to express and even impress, but sooner or later when unguarded, our true character comes out.

Let us recall the times when we were in crisis or when people offended us. How did we react? How do we behave at home? These are the unguarded times when we find out the strength of the foundation of our character.

I have heard once in a homily that humility is the mother of all virtues. It is the strength of God and the weakness of the devil. The crucifixion of Christ was an act of utmost humility that saved us all.

Funny thing about humility is that when you admit that you are humble you automatically lose the virtue.

Like the wooden blocks, it is humble in appearance but rich in value. Let humility be the foundation of the building blocks of our character. May humility be evident in our unguarded moments, when no one is around to judge. May Christ, our sure foundation, build us up to be like Him.

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Strive for Character, Not Position

When someone enters a corporation, he may say, "One day I will be the CEO of this company." While it is not bad to have such a dream, it may be questionable on how he intends to get there. He may try to get to his goal by compromising his values. He might do it "by hook or by crook," as the cliche goes.

One should then not desire for position, but strive for the qualities that will build his character. Being a CEO one day, will just be a consequence of the strength of one's character that matches the requirements of the job. One may ask, "what are the ideal qualities of a CEO?" And upon those qualities shall one work his best to acquire.

"Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left. Mark 10:37 "

In the passage, James and John asked to be seated at the left and right side of Jesus. This implied asking for a position. But Jesus pointed out the qualities of what they are asking, which is the quality of servanthood. "But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; Mark 10:43."

Let us therefore strive on building our character and not on the position.