“Look around the habitable world: how few know their own good, or knowing it follow it” (John Dryden).
Two questions test our character at its deepest level. Marcus Aurelius was not wrong when he said, “The true worth of a man is measured by the things he pursues.” So it is important to ask yourself these two questions at regular intervals: What are we doing? And How are we taking this forward?
The “what” of our search. It is morally and ethically wrong to pursue certain things, and these efforts cannot be qualified by any amount of excellence in the manner or method of pursuing them. Yet even within the bounds of what is right, we need to be careful about what we are trying to achieve. “Good” is often the enemy of “better” and “best,” and we should care enough about the quality of our lives to achieve the best we can. However, more importantly, we need to be cautious in the criteria by which we judge what is good, better and best. For example, according to some criteria, it would be better to become a doctor than to become a nurse, but according to other (equally valid) criteria, the person who has become a nurse has pursued no less laudable goals than the doctor, despite the doctor’s higher social and economic profile. To be completely accurate, we have to say that a person’s real worth is measured not only by the objects he pursues, but also by the reasons for which he pursues them.
The “how” of our discovery. Even with commendable actions, we need to make sure we pay them forward theorist way. Contrary to popular belief, the end does not justify the means, and we are never excused from doing wrong simply because we had an honorable purpose. And not only must the achievement of our goals be theoretical; it should also happen passionate. “The roots of true achievement lie in the will to become the best that you can be” (Harold Taylor).
So, it is important for us Pay attention to our actions. Many good goals cannot be achieved simply by “going with the flow.” Keeping ourselves pointed in the right direction requires deliberate, conscious choices – and it takes character to pursue our activities with principle and passion in whatever direction is right to direct us.
“Every calling is great when fully followed” (Oliver Wendell Holmes).
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com AreYouaChristian.com
