Force of Character

Thanks to Gayle for submitting her window on the world (shown above). I'd really love to see more of these from you. Please, won't you take a quick photo and email it to me?

Here's a passage from the Integrity book I'm reading right now:

Someone of virtue is a force, and a force always leaves a result. When a hurricane comes through a town, you can see the results of its force. When the wind moves across the water, or through the trees, you can see the results of its force.

Likewise, when you move through life, through your company or organization, through your career, and through your relationships, your character is going to be a "force." The question is, "What kind of force is it going to be?" Will it be one of virtue, where you deliver the goods? When you bring energy and force of character to a goal or a project, will the force bring about fruit? In many ways...it is up to you.

The author, Henry Cloud, talks throughout the book about character determining what kind of wake we leave behind us in our lives. Think about the wake a boat leaves as it travels across the water. In similar ways we leave a wake behind us as we travel through life.

The question is: What kind of wake am I leaving? Is it straight and headed toward a worthy goal or does it waver and move chaotically from side to side? Are there lots of happy people skiing and tubing in my wake? Or are there a lot of wounded people bobbing in the water?

Whether we realize it or not, the force of our character is really strong. I want to stay aware of what that force is doing to others in my life.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! Enjoy your weekend, and I'll see you on Monday.