Surviving Life: Character is Built in Hardship

If you choose to remain in your self-built bubble attempting to be immune from the growing unease becoming rampant across our country, if you choose to work at being comfortably numb so you have no need to prepare and face the myriad of assaults stealing what was once the American way of life the world envied, then skip the remainder of my article, as my words will have no meaning to you. Or grab a cup of coffee, maybe a glass of wine or Makers Mark, and allow me to challenge you out of care and concern for you, not to insult or degrade.

Our beloved United States is deliberately under attack by diabolical forces who loathe our founding principles and have worked to reshape our nation into a New-World Order. The economic, social and political assaults coming, and already underway, shall prove to be most sobering, very trying, and quite sadly successful in many ways. Shall we survive as a nation delivered to us as a gift by our Forefathers? Shall we collectively come to our senses and submit (means cooperate) to God’s Will and purpose for this nation? Shall we individually and collectively stand and shout, “ENOUGH!” All of this will be seen sooner rather than later. But I want to challenge you now to stand and not faint; to run toward the battle and not away; to find your true character as you navigate some dark passages about to come to our nation that once shined like a city on a hill.

Our founders individually came to a personal decision to place God’s Will ahead of their own no matter how good theirs may have appeared. They each knew such a decision would signal a death warrant by the tyrannical force of that day to them, and those who joined. They each knelt and prayed prior to coming forward and placing their name on the Declaration of Independence…this act of prayer was not theatrical or for the camera or political posturing; each knelt at their desk as their name was called to come forward because they knew well the result of their act. Each of their unselfish act took inner courage they called forth so they could stand, and this courage brought forth the character of the man who placed his name and life on that parchment for you and for me. You see…character creates courage. Truly when you observe a person’s behavior, you are also observing a person’s character.

There was once a mouse terrified of cats until a magician agreed to transform the mouse into a cat. This act resolved his fear until he met a dog, so the magician changed him into a dog. The mouse-turned-cat-turned-dog was content until he met a tiger. Once again, the magician was asked to change him into a tiger. But when the now tiger came fearing that he met a hunter, the magician refused to help. “I will make you into a mouse again, for though you have the body of a tiger, you still have the heart of a mouse.”

How many people do you know who have built a formidable exterior, only to tremble inside with fear? How many people do you know who have built a stockpile of wealth or sought security in things and titles or positions? So very many have sought fame or status but remain merely a shell. Many work tirelessly to cultivate fame and position, to seize power but remain similar to the mouse described herein.

Courage is an outgrowth of who we are truly inside. Our exterior ways and behaviors may temporarily sustain us, but only inward character creates courage. We are about to witness those who have true inward character and true courage much similar to that demonstrated by the founders of our exceptional nation. Where are you in this regard?

©2024. Lyle J. Rapacki, Ph.D. All rights reserved.

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