We tend to judge others by the amount of money they have, the size of their houses, the kinds of cars they drive, where their children go to school and then college, whether they have a trophy spouse, their private clubs, the power they exert financially and politically. Sometimes we even fantasize being them. We assume that those with lots of money are smarter than we are, and that their stuff makes them happier.
I was looking at YouTube the other evening. I love boating and fishing, so I was dreaming about bass fishing boats. The geniuses at YouTube apparently noted my interest in boats and began showing me options to view yachts. Each one I looked at was more expensive than the last.
One was three football fields long, had five bedroom suites, indoor and outdoor pools, a huge kitchen, a movie theater and … well, it doesn’t matter. The cost would pay down the national debt. And my 20-year-old canoe and I had been through a lot together.
The point is that no matter how much we have, there are always those with more, and all that stuff doesn’t make them happier. I know this, because my wife and I don’t own a yacht, and, like a lot of people, we don’t have a second place somewhere warmer than here in Pennsylvania. Yet, my wife and I couldn’t be happier.
Yet, I worry about those who are less fortunate, have lost their jobs, depleted their savings, have little income and are praying that Washington doesn’t kill Social Security. I also worry about immigrants who love America and are mistreated after having risked everything to come here with dreams of finding work.
No one envies these people, nor the elderly, the poor, the downtrodden. Some politicians look down on them. They target new immigrants, because these people can’t vote. They have attacked Social Security benefits because the government pays their salaries and, until relatively recently, they were not eligible to receive Social Security.
We have a long road ahead of us if we continue to measure the worth of people by the size of their pocketbooks. Money is not the true measure of a person’s leadership, capability, character or worth. Success is based on something else.
It is this insight that’s coming at a high price to America in terms of division, the Trumping of truth, the mistreatment of our most vulnerable. Hateful and selfish behavior is a very real threat to our way of life, and is causing a deterioration in America’s power, standing, leadership and influence in the world.
Character — the sum of honorable qualities — is the real measure of a person. This means charity, brotherhood, trusteeship, responsibility and the sharing of wealth with the less fortunate. Then to the extent that a person understands that all people are equal adds to character. Those with power are meant to share it for the common good.
Character is not parading around with weapons strapped to shoulders intimidating others and screaming about personal rights. That’s because character comes from the spirit. It is an example of truth and virtue. It rises above self interest.
Character requires a person to understand and practice the moral, social, civic and domestic virtues that are part of our religious heritage. Ideals take precedence. A person of worth seeks wisdom, knowledge and understanding from a Higher Power.
If these are abstract words that sound highfalutin, like you might hear when attending church, they are. The truth is that few of us measure up. I certainly don’t. But I do know a handful of people who offer an example to live by and who have made a difference in the lives of others.
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I recall a man who operated a small grocery store on North Main Street near Trinity Lutheran Church in Chambersburg. He made certain that the kids who played on the high school basketball team had shoes. Many were poor, and without his help, would have not had any chance in life, even to own a pair of basketball shoes, let alone to play basketball.
He would also gather up kids from around town, the poorest of our poor, and take them to the local YMCA for at least one evening a week. His efforts and faithfulness to doing what was right made all the difference in the world to these kids. This man sought no reward, ran for no office, did not aggrandize himself and did not ask for so much as a thank you.
Today as a nation we are faced with a number of leaders who are tiny people when measured up to that local grocer. Maybe it is time we elect more people with character who are less interested in personal aggrandizement and more interested in serving others.
Character is everything.
Bill Gindlesperger is a central Pennsylvanian, Dickinson College graduate, Pennsylvania System Of Higher Education (PASSHE) Governor, Shippensburg University Trustee, and Chairman of eLynxx Solutions. The firm provides enterprise-level cloud-software for communicating, specifying, approving, procuring, producing, reporting and activities necessary to obtaining direct mail, packaging, promo, marketing and all other printing. He is a board member, campaign advisor, successful entrepreneur, published author and commentator. He can be reached at[email protected].
