Being a Person of Character
Being a Person of Character
Max Lucado is one of my favorite authors. In his excellent book, The Angels Were Silent, he shares a compelling story that reveals the importance of character. Lt. John Blanchard straightened his Navy uniform and watched people moving through Grand Central Station. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he did not. Blanchard had begun falling in love more than a year earlier, in a Florida library, when he read her insightful words in a book’s margins. He was excited when her found her name written in the book; Miss. Hollis Maynell.
It took time, but John eventually located Hollis’s address in New York City. He wrote a letter introducing himself and asking for permission to write while he fought in World War II. The couple wrote regularly, but despite their budding romance, Hollis refused to send him a picture, saying that if he genuinely cared for her, his focus should be on her heart, not her looks.
John waited anxiously on the day they were to meet. Hollis promised to wear a red rose on her lapel. As he scanned the crowd looking for the rose, John noticed a stunningblonde. He also caught her eye as they passed; she smiled and asked, “Going my way, sailor?”
At that very moment, John noticed a lady with a rose directly behind the beautiful woman. She was well past 40, with gray hair and a plump figure. John was tempted to follow the young woman, but then he gripped the worn blue leather book that was to identify him. He knew this relationship would not be romantic, but John believed it could be a deep friendship that would be very meaningful.
He held out the book, saying, “I’m Lt. John Blanchard, and you must be Miss.Maynell. I’m so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?” The woman smiledbefore saying, “I don’t know what this is about, but the young lady who just walked past begged me to wear this rose. She said that if you asked me to dinner, I was to tell you she was waiting in that restaurant… She said it was a test of some sort!”
Almost everyone regularly faces some ethical test. We often do not realize how our small choices reveal a great deal about us. Making the right choices is challenging, but it is an essential part of being the person God wants us to be.
The Apostle Paul wrote these challenging words to a young pastor, “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech…” (Titus 2:7-8, NLT)
As we prepare to begin 2026, let us commit to consistently demonstratingintegrity. Though it may not always work to our immediate advantage, being a person of character will ultimately help us succeed. Happy ethical New Year, everyone!