When I hear about someone described as a “person of character”, the “grammar nerd” in me cringes at the redundancy or oxymoron. Of course everyone has character, that unique, yet shaped by environment, upbringing and DNA. The word character originates in the classical Greek language. Charakter is defined as “mark; impression; engraving”. A charakter was someone you hired if you needed a sign made. In that regard, my father is a charakter! He is not hired, but voluntarily makes signs for our synod’s outdoor retreat center. It is his “retirement ministry.” He is my role model and a man of holy character. He engraved in the heart of my brother and me a character grounded in good Christian values. At low points in my life, I have felt like a tremendous disappointment to him, God, and everything I was taught to be sacred. We are all broken, sinful creatures. Thankfully, I never completely lost my bearings; the compass got me back on the right path after much repentance and soul-searching. The legacy my parents have left me has been the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They made sacrifices. They were the final manifestation of what we refer to sociologically as “The Greatest Generation.” Their earliest memories were of The Great Depression and World War II. They carried that courage and tenacity into their parenting. Us Baby Boomers were the recipients of those virtues and morals, which we often chose to ignore as the “me” generation tantalized us.

None of our engraved character happened by accident. Wise teaching, living a godly example – these were imparted to us who are now aged 55-74. Life span psychology is very fascinating to me. It helps explain how we move through different manifestations of our character as we adapt to rapidly changing times. The only constant is our God. Constant is not the same as unchanging. In one of many paradoxical ways we describe God, He is at the same time changing and unchanging. Adapting and relating.  Adjusting and responding. His promises and plans for us? Unchanging. The future – and oh, how good and joyous it is! – is prepared, certain. While we live and move and have our being, we strive daily to uphold the virtues of the character that has been shaped in us.

I invite and encourage you to consider how wonderfully each of us are made. Explore the depths of understanding, sympathizing, and empathizing with another person. To stretch even further, someone who you have an issue, even a dislike for. They have a character, an imprint – and it comes from God. We believe that he knew each and every one of us before we were conceived. From that mind-boggling starting point, you are then able to see with eyes wide open that they too are a person unconditionally loved, as you are. Astonishing. Life-giving. World-shattering. Give thanks for them, and that God thought you were important enough to be created.

Pastor Art