“THE CONTENT OF CHARACTER: CHOICES, THOUGHTS, AND DEEDS”

“The content of your character is your choice.  Day by day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become.” (Heraclitus)

I was just about to play some computer word games.  The problem is that I am trying to eliminate them for a while.  If I could play ten minutes and stop, that might be okay.  However, I tend to play ten minutes, and then keep playing.

So, instead, I read some quotes from one of my favorite philosophers: Heraclitus.  When I read the above quote, I was so glad that I had chosen not to play any computer games, because I don’t really want to become a computer game.

What do I want to become?  I want to become love, humility, kindness, and courage.  I want to become more like Jesus Christ.

But here is the important question: Am I in fact making the moment-by-moment decisions about my choices, thoughts and deeds that will help me to become more loving, humble, kind, courageous, and Christ-like?

Wanting is not enough.  Choices, thoughts and deeds matter.

In one of my 12-step readings this morning, the author (anonymous as you might expect) pointed out that there are two basic requirements for sobriety: trusting God and doing something for your recovery.

It isn’t a case of either/or.  It is a matter of both/and.  And I’ve noticed that the more I really trust God, the more I am freed up to do what I need to do to be sober.  And the more I do what I need to do to be sober, the more I trust God.

You’ve heard of vicious cycles?  Trusting God and doing what I deeply need to do is a virtuous cycle.

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