The Compass of Destiny

“Character is like a tree and reputation is like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” - Abraham Lincoln 

“Reputation is for time; character is for eternity.” J. B.Gough

Be careful .. who you love 

Be careful .. what you love       

Be careful .. what you do 
 

“So, take my strong advice, just remember to always think twice

People always told me to be careful of what you do.
And don't go around breaking .. hearts.
And mother always told me “be careful who you love”
And “be careful of what you do 'cause the LIE becomes the truth”  – Michael Jackson “Billie Jean”

See the LIES I tell myself .. *

How I practice inner stealth

Find the Truth & be set free

Then I’ll find the best in me

Does who you are .. guide what you do?

Does what you do .. determine who you become? 

Is a person “bad” or “good”?

This is not easily understood.

Is it possible to look from the outside .. in

Can you see “character” deep within? 

What is character?

It has many meanings .. here are a few:

.. moral excellence 

.. attributes that distinguish an individual

.. distinctive qualities

.. complex mental & ethical traits 

Character has many shades. What do you see? 

Are you the shadow .. or are you the tree? 

Character can be noble .. virtuous .. upright .. worthy 

Or unsavory .. in bondage to the dark .. a form or slavery 

“You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.” Henry David Thoreau

 “Be your character what it will, it will be known, and nobody will take it upon your word.” Lord Chesterfield 

"From fire .. comes refining. Character is always revealed in adversity." - me

Character is FORGED .. in the often-fiery CRUCIBLE .. of LIFE

It is EARNED under pressure in DIFFICULT battles & strife 

Noble character by unswerving FORTITUDE is formed

By PERSEVERANCE .. while enduring  life’s storms

In no marketplace can it be bought or sold 

Its  ATTRIBUTES are as pure as GOLD

It can’t be manufactured or made 

It can’t be SWAYED or PLAYED

Its value cannot be WEIGHED

Its ESSCENCE does not fade

Everyone falls .. not everyone gets back up

You should not be defined by mistakes ..

True character will always find Grace 

“Character is the beauty that rises from ashes” - me

In great LOSS 

.. your child

.. your health 

.. your wealth 

.. your spouse 

.. your house

If all your earthy possessions PERSISH .. what remains?

Here you will find the truest state of your being

.. what only God and you are seeing ..

The state of your soul 

The condition of your heart

The strength of your spirit

.. not something you inherit ..

Your character is an internal well

What about your life will it tell?

How deep do your waters flow?

.. only you and God know ..                

How deep is your “character” well?

The outside gives clues like a seashell 

Behind your walls .. beneath your skin 

What qualities can be found deep within?

.. loving .. truthful .. honest .. faithful .. loyal 

.. personally responsible & accountable

.. self-control .. self-sacrifice .. humility

.. forgiveness .. forbearance .. integrity

.. perseverance .. patience .. kindness 

.. trustworthy .. courageous .. brave

“Character is a diamond that scratches every other stone.” Cyrus Bartoi

When you look in the MIRROR  .. what do your eyes see? 

Do you know your TRUE core? Or is that a MYSTERY? 

Do you look to the best interest of others?

Regard people like sisters & brothers?

Are you a giver or a taker? 

Genuine or a faker?

Character can be tested in never-ending ways 

When DARKNESS seductively says “let’s play”

Do you turn you back .. walk away?

Or are you easily swayed?

Do birds of a feather 

.. flock together? ..

“Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.” Albert Einstein

“The best index to a person's character is how he treats people who can't do him any good, and how he treats people who can't fight back.” ― Abigail Van Buren

“Parents can only give good advice or put their children on the right path. The final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” Anne Frank

What shapes character?

Do you love dark or light?

Are your actions wrong or right?

Right-thinking produces right actions 

Wrong-thinking produces wrong actions 

This principle is as sure as gravity

We live in a REBELLIOUS world .. in a time when many question “what is RIGHT?”                                                                     

Throughout human history:  “right” means morally good, justified, or acceptable

Righteousness means the same: the quality of being morally right or justifiable.

What is your standard of right & wrong?                                             

Is it human-opinion?

Very often people perceive something to be “right”

… even if .. even when they are falling off a precipice

“There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads to death.” ~ Proverbs 14:12 

We are admonished .. be careful .. 

“Lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge him (The Lord) and He will make your paths straight” - Proverbs 3

Human-opinion is the precarious posture of leaning on your own understanding.

Is there a Higher Standard? 

Human are created in God’s image

Should our “character” be based on His Standards .. His attributes

Does the apple fall far from the Tree?

Jesus is the “Son of God“ .. who became the “Son of Man” to become our Savior. He is also the “Son of Righteousness” .. and God’s Final Word to humanity.

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” – Hebrews 1

Faith is the hearts response to the “character” of God. 

https://bibleproject.com/learn/character-of-god-series/

Character determines how a person interprets God's will. Encourage reading Psalm 18:20-26 

Character & attitude are the most powerful signatures you possess.

Character is a compass that effects every aspect of your life.

Mental-attitude

Heart-attitude 

What you do 

Who you love 

What you love 

What you value 

What you believe

Where you are focused

How you spend your time 

Character will determine how you journey through life .. influence outcomes & guide your destination 

Be careful ..                                                                       

A hole can begin within your SOUL

.. that you might not even know.

The mind can be BLIND ..

when TRUTH it refuses to find.

And darkness is a hidden tower

Exerting force in every hour ..

Unknowing people it will DEVOUR                                                                      

This veil of DARKNESS echoes in time

UNDERSTANDING shifts the paradigm

If LOVE & RIGHT is your delight ..

Then you are walking in the LIGHT **

.. Consider how one thing leads to another .. 

Lao Tzu, Gandhi, Buddha, Frank Outlaw and the father of Margaret Thatcher .. these individuals have been credited with this quote. - Quote Investigator

A path of principle that leads to CHARACTER .. from Scent of a Woman “I'll show you out of order”

.. Consider the man in the mirror .. 

Worry about your character not your reputation. Your character is who you are. Your reputation is what others think you are. 

This post is my “in the Light” reflection .. to Alan Geller’s “After Dark invitation” to share an “Interlude” .. to your HONOR Alan .. you always INSPIRE ( I would trust your “character” even in the dark ;~)

This Week’s Submission: Billie Jean - Artist: Michael Jackson

Subject: Character

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6801609502010470400/

References:

Think 2WICE .. his writing will make you “Think Twice” .. I promise

Arthur Russell - Author: "This Taste of Flesh and Bones"

https://think2wice.me/

“Where is your thought compass leading you?”

https://us.bebee.com/producer/where-is-your-thought-compass-leading-you

*lines from “Divine Art”

https://us.bebee.com/producer/human-onions-divine-art                      

** lines from “What Color is Light?”

https://us.bebee.com/producer/what-color-is-light

John 3

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3&version=NIV

Hebrews 1 Gods Final Word: His Son

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1&version=NIV

Character of God 

https://bibleproject.com/learn/character-of-god-series/

Essential traits of good character

https://www.success.com/rohn-6-essential-traits-of-good-character/

http://www.inspirational-quotes.info/character.html

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/character

"In His Light" .. I write

All rights reserved:  Fay Marmalich-Vietmeier 

If my words make you think … Great ;~)

As “iron-sharpens-iron” … I enjoy bantering with other BEES … please know, your feedback is as “honey”

A glimpse of the “Bee” called “me” ;~)

My caring nature makes me an advocate. My curious nature makes me a “queen of questions” … but gifted with the ability to listen ;~) I am a woman of deep faith, a blessed mother, a voracious reader, a blossoming writer, a grateful person, and a lover of beauty … I treasure family, true friendships and my loyal clients ... enjoy traveling, learning, good movies, good wine and golf. I’m a “heart-to-heart” communicator.

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