Dear friends,

Is my hope that my 19th newsletter will find you in good health, encouraged and full of energy. Today, I invite you to exercise with me. Take a deep breath. Sink into a meditation of something beautiful you’ve previously experienced. My yoga instructor always encourages the group to meditate on something wonderful as an act of exercise. Also, my Japanese masseuse encourages me to meditate on something positive each time I visit her. This is because it is important for us, no matter our cultural backgrounds, beliefs or nature to tune into our inner strength, beauty and energy. You can try this in your daily devotion time and it will help you to focus on the positive side of life.

Today I wrote about Character. Our character determines who we truly are and our destination. I was inspired to write about this particular topic after reading an interview of Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose Driven Life”, which sold 15 million copies worldwide. In this interview by Paul Bradshaw, here are some of the things Rick Warren said;

“Life is a series of problems: you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort. This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer. I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good for which you can thank God. You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems. If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, "which is my problem, my issues, my pain.” But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others. You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.”

Rick Warren refers the daily struggles as problems. I will call them challenges. In past newsletters, I’ve mentioned that we need to be prepared for all seasons of life and the challenges they bring. If we are true to ourselves and allow growth, our character is matured and we are ready for all seasons of life….good and bad. I was writing a portion of my next book on a plane. The airline radio station played Dolly Parton’s and Roger McGuinn’s version of the 1965 Byrds Song…There is a season…turn, turn, turn. The lyrics were taken from a scripture in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 which states that there’s a time for everything; a time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant, a time to pluck what is planted, ….a time to laugh, a time to cry, a time to mourn, a time to dance, a time to embrace……a time to speak, a time to keep silent,…a time for war, a time for peace. I said to myself, this is so true. So I added those words to the manuscript on which I was currently working. Friends, I urge you to be prepared to face everything in life. Work on those areas in your character that need to be strengthened and don’t wait for tomorrow. For tomorrow might be too late.

Here are some suggestions for developing a good character:

1. Be a person of your word! Say what you mean and mean what you say. Integrity and accountability are signs of maturity in a person of good character.
2. Do to others what you would like them to do to you.
3. Serve and help others. If you are a leader, be one who serves and not a discourager, a person of attitude or arrogance. Avoid using your position to exploit others.
4. Be a peace maker and not an instigator.
5. Be a person that others would feel comfortable being around. Learn to build others and not break them. Self-confidence comes by fixing yourself first and not trying to fix others.
6. Avoid pride because destruction follows pride. Be humble.
7. Acknowledge when you are wrong and seek forgiveness instead of blaming others for your situation. Repent when it is needed.
8. Seek wisdom for we can all learn from one another. No one knows everything. With wisdom you gain not only success and wealth but also respect. King Solomon, one of the richest men who ever existed, counted wisdom as his main resource.
9. Seek beauty from within and it will radiate outwardly. Physical beauty with poor manners is vain.
10. Let others see the good in you. Actions speak louder than words!!!

Rick Warren states in his interview that God is interested in your character. Not only is God interested in your character but all who cross your path will be drawn to you because of good character. Character building is one resource that no one can take from you but will prepare you to be a good person and reach your full potential in all areas of your life. Again, don’t do it to please others but do it to make yourself better. Sometimes, no matter what you do, you won’t be able to please human beings. Know that you are doing your best and move on to the better side of life.

Peace and Purpose