I have decided to post some "older" notes that I've previously had on facebook, or perhaps not had anywhere at all. It is just to get the blog up and running, hopefully my note writing will fire up and I'll be bringing you fresh ones!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 12:06am
"Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." ~ Abraham Lincoln
I do hope I am interpreting this right - if not, please inform me asap :)
Where lies the differentiation (big word!) between character and reputation? I struggle with this, because I tend to err on the side of not caring enough about what people think, and caring more about what I view as right. This can be useful in many ways - especially for my self esteem - but detrimental when it comes to the way people view me. My example as a believing, "practicing" Christian is something vital to the foundation of my witnessing. I find it difficult to determine what is permissible and what should be avoided. Talking to midnight about God and "deep issues" at a guys house with other people may be perfectly innocent to me, but in other peoples eyes it implies something completely different.
Hey, don't get me wrong here. This is the reason I struggle with this particular issue in such a way. That was an obviously lame example, delibrately. I do not live my life to the expectations and perspectives of other people. I want to live to God's though, hence me wanting to have a good "shadow" of reputation, and yet not wanting to compromise my "tree of character" and have to give up things that reflect badly to other people. I understand some things just need common sense, but others are that much more grey in different circumstances. I cannot help what people think of me, but, can I change how they view me?
I am someone who hates being under peoples expectations and views of and for my life. In saying that, I respect peoples desires for my life at a caring level, but when it becomes a matter of "I desire you to do such and such" and "You're amazing because you did such and such", that honestly bugs me. Most times it has happened, it has been from people I care about and value their opinion. I can see how they mean it in the best possible way, but a part of me wants to turn around and say "Can't you just take me for my character, not what it reflects??" I know that probably contradicts me wanting people to see my character in a way, because obviously what it reflects is not always bad, at least I hope not! I'm probably repeating myself here, and making the same point over and over, I tend to do that when I'm tired or passionately thinking about something.
So, question time - If character really means more than reputation, how do you juggle the both in relation to being an example to what you believe in?
Thanks for reading :)
"Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." ~ Abraham Lincoln
I do hope I am interpreting this right - if not, please inform me asap :)
Where lies the differentiation (big word!) between character and reputation? I struggle with this, because I tend to err on the side of not caring enough about what people think, and caring more about what I view as right. This can be useful in many ways - especially for my self esteem - but detrimental when it comes to the way people view me. My example as a believing, "practicing" Christian is something vital to the foundation of my witnessing. I find it difficult to determine what is permissible and what should be avoided. Talking to midnight about God and "deep issues" at a guys house with other people may be perfectly innocent to me, but in other peoples eyes it implies something completely different.
Hey, don't get me wrong here. This is the reason I struggle with this particular issue in such a way. That was an obviously lame example, delibrately. I do not live my life to the expectations and perspectives of other people. I want to live to God's though, hence me wanting to have a good "shadow" of reputation, and yet not wanting to compromise my "tree of character" and have to give up things that reflect badly to other people. I understand some things just need common sense, but others are that much more grey in different circumstances. I cannot help what people think of me, but, can I change how they view me?
I am someone who hates being under peoples expectations and views of and for my life. In saying that, I respect peoples desires for my life at a caring level, but when it becomes a matter of "I desire you to do such and such" and "You're amazing because you did such and such", that honestly bugs me. Most times it has happened, it has been from people I care about and value their opinion. I can see how they mean it in the best possible way, but a part of me wants to turn around and say "Can't you just take me for my character, not what it reflects??" I know that probably contradicts me wanting people to see my character in a way, because obviously what it reflects is not always bad, at least I hope not! I'm probably repeating myself here, and making the same point over and over, I tend to do that when I'm tired or passionately thinking about something.
So, question time - If character really means more than reputation, how do you juggle the both in relation to being an example to what you believe in?
Thanks for reading :)
hmm, when you read this horsey, do you see how rough I am compared to you?? We are different writers for sure, but I do love how you use your words!!
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