Hurray for character...and for toilet paper.

Of all the qualities that I admire the most in people, it is an upright character. I have never known someone that had too much of it, but I have come in contact with plenty of people who needed it. An abundance of character is not easily described, but the lack thereof is easily recognized.

For instance, take Tony Dungy...the coach of my Super Bowl winning team The Indianapolis Colts. How can you descibe this humble man's character? He is admired, respected and trusted both on and off the field. He gives credit where credit is due, and bows his head when showered with accolades, no matter how deservedly they are given. His upright character is fleshed out in his personal and private life, and although certainly not a perfect man, he is a great example of Paul's admonition to "follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." (1 Cor. 11:1; Phil 3:17)

Tonight, I came home to find that my yard had been "TP'd" in a grand fashion. Now, for those of you who don't know me well, I consider this a mortal offense...it's just a big deal to me because I try to do all that I can to take humble pride in the stewardship of all of which God has blessed our family, not for our own glory, but because I think that my yard is a potential witness to my own character. I mean, I understand pranks and jokes, but this is not one that I grant favor or a blind eye. Immediately, I got on the phone and called a young man that I thought might know who the culprits were...and immediately he confessed and gave me the names of all of those students (whom I love dearly, by the way) who were involved. He did so immediately and humbly, and upon my request to come and clean it up, he didn't hesistate. His upright character came blazing through as a testimony of respect and love. Being sick, I expressed my disappointment, but my thanks for his honesty and his action.

Within several minutes, 7 of the 8 students involved were at my house in the 10 pm hour cleaning the mess up...which was no easy task. And, although they couldn't get it all, they all 'manned up' (even though one was a young woman!) and got it as clean as possible with little more light than the moon and the front porch lights.

This is so rare these days. Upright character...instant honesty...integrity...ownership of one's actions. Why? What has happened to us that we settle for less than transparency and introspection within our personal lives? Are we so deceived and blinded by the victim mentality ("it was someone else's fault"..."the devil made me do it"..."if someone had been there to stop me, it wouldn't have happened") that we brush upright character into some obscure corner of our lives? Who is actually out there among us as believers that would man up with enough courage to say, "Follow me as I follow Christ"...and those of us who would follow could, with confidence, say "I am actually being led towards Christ."? Does it really take a Super Bowl or a toilet bowl for us to find people who are upright?

Upright character...any takers?

Bring on the TP.