Translating a World on the Edge

The question is not “Are you strong?” It is–“HOW are you strong?”

Human beings have various strengths: Physical strength. Intellectual strength. And strength of character. Do you have one, two, or are you fortunate enough to have been given all three?

Physical strength builds a country, a city, a home. Physical strength protects that country, guards that city, maintains that home. Physical strength is beautiful, empowering, and necessary. So people with the gift of physical strength are admired.

Intellectual strength conceptualizes the country, the city, the home. Intellectual strength is responsible for the ongoing progress of a country, its industries, and the well-being of its people. Intellectual strength is also beautiful, empowering and necessary.

But a person can possess physical strength, or mental strength, and not have strength of character.

Strength of character is found in someone who is resilient to hardships, and has the resolve to stand firm in their beliefs. Strength of character is found in someone who is virtuous. It can be found in the physically and intellectually strong. But often it is found in the weak, the humble, the unattractive, the elderly, and surprisingly, in children. Because we are all born with an instinct to love through the grace of God.

Virtuous actions are indicative of Strength of character.

These virtues do not require physical strength or intellectual strength. But all of them require strength of character—the underpinning of what it means to be a human being.

In Catholicism, the seven Christian virtues refer to the union of two sets of virtues: The cardinal virtues–from ancient Greek philosophy–are prudence, justice, temperance or restraint, and courage; and the theological virtues–from the letters of St. Paul of Tarsus–faith, hope, and charity, or love.

Animals have physical strength. Today’s machines and electronics have intellectual strength. But only a human being can have strength of character. Persons of character are noted for their honesty, ethics, and charity. We think of them as “men of principle” or “women of integrity.”

The lack of character is moral deficiency, and persons lacking character tend to behave dishonestly, unethically, and uncharitably. An individual, a country, or a world that disregards this fact is doomed.

How are we doing today–individually and as a nation–regarding Strength of Character?