Deeper Thoughts #6

Who am I without my possessions?  I’ve been thinking about this recently as a friend has had most of her possessions in storage for nearly a year while she stays with family members looking to find her own place to live.

Do others know me for what I have, for what I do, or for what I look like?  Color of skin certainly gives a first impression, just as being 4’ tall or 7’ tall.  We all have eyes and thus analyze most everything we see, whether consciously or unconsciously.  But with time we see there's way more to the person than those first impressions.

I think of my oldest granddaughter who has quite a lot of facial piercings.  Will she be as attractive to her current friends if she removes them all?  Or do they contribute a great deal to the person she wants to be seen as?

Will I be as interesting a person if I get rid of my camper van and all the crazy stories that go with it?  Will others recognize me as the same person without a guitar or a camera, or even a computer?

So, what is the most important “possession” in this world?  I believe it is character. 

Viktor Frankl in 'Man’s Search for Meaning' found that however horrible his circumstances were he could choose his response to them.  His attitude, his compassion for others, his courage to do the right thing… these were always choices he had.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer faced similar circumstances.  This man had incredible moral courage.  He lost his life because of it.

Will I display patience, kindness and gentleness?   Will I be someone who encourages others to keep going when the road gets rough, or to get up and start again when they trip and fall on the rough road? 

Character matters.  Integrity matters.  Compassion matters. A heart at peace with God matters the most!  

Character is what I want to be known for.  It’s what I can take with me wherever I go, even if I lose all my other possessions.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 

patience, kindness, goodness, 

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; 

against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23  (ESV)