The spirit of character
It’s all about enforcing self-discipline and choosing the right from wrong, says IBONIO D’SOUZA
Samuel Butler, a famous English author, declared, “Pleasure…is a safer guide than either right or duty.” It would seem that modern society agrees. Seeking out and doing what feels good – pleasure – drives the mind of many, without any notion of resistance to anything on the basis of right and wrong. This thinking ultimately leads to a life of utter futility. Such a life brings no useful result, literally chasing after nothing!
Many seek fame, fortune, power or pleasure, not realising that these things do not last. We feel that without these, life is unfulfilling. Yet, there is something that does last, that nearly all people overlook. What will not fade with time, which cannot be taken away from you, and will outlast your physical life, is perfect character. Meaningful life, on the other hand, demands action – one must wake up each day with a purpose to do something. True happiness cannot be achieved through idleness. One’s time must be occupied with worthwhile pursuits.
Possessions that do not last
Most seek money as the solution to all their problems, with many even resorting to robbery, deceit and other corrupt practices. Others, not being satisfied with the money they have, opt for the “easy” route to acquire more, such as lotteries and gambling. Most fail to consider that even large sums of money can easily be depleted. Then there are those who seek fame and power, with, of course, wealth being a welcome benefit. Many covet the “big life” that movie stars, rock stars, athletes, CEOs and other top executives seemingly enjoy. It is thought that if fame is achieved, the ultimate “wonderful life” would result.
Moreover, there are those who seek “sex appeal” as a way of life, keeping up with the latest fads and trends. Billions of dollars are spent each year by people seeking to become or remain beautiful. In the fashion and cosmetic industry, new and exciting products and procedures are constantly being introduced, promising breathtaking beauty. Plastic surgery is becoming a booming industry as well, with many teenagers seeking to look more attractive. Procedures such as liposuction and botox injections are increasing in popularity. But, like money, fame and power, beauty will eventually come to an end.
Solomon, the wise king of the Biblical era, wrote near the end of his life: “So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy (pleasure); for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour”. Solomon made it his mission to enjoy every conceivable pleasure. God allowed this so that mankind could learn from his experience. Here is what Solomon concluded: “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to: and, behold, all was vanity (futile) and vexation of spirit (frustration), and there was no profit under the sun. For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts; even one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other; yes, they have all one breath; so that a man has no pre eminence above a beast: for all is vanity (futile). All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again”.
Possessions that last
The wise King Solomon came to realise that we all will eventually die, and none can escape this fate. With death, the things that most pursue – wealth, fame, power, beauty and pleasure – also come to an end. But the only thing that survives the grave, is character! And, what is character? It is the ability to come to the knowledge of the right from the wrong – the true from the false – and to choose the right, and possess the will to enforce self-discipline to do the right and resist the wrong. The reason we were put on this earth is to build perfect, righteous character. Without character, we are nothing. God, as we know, has and is of perfect character. God wants to build this same perfect, eternal and indestructible character in you.
Life is full of choices
God has designed life to be full of choices – what to eat, what to wear, what to drink – how to live. Throughout any given day, thousands of decisions are made. It can be said that life is a series of choices, with each decision having an impact on future decisions. Adam and Eve were given a choice – to eat of a particular tree and die, or to avoid it and live. God did not force them to do what He commanded. Being given a choice is the only way to build character. Because, they did not believe God, Adam and Eve decided to eat from the wrong tree. They rejected God’s authority over them and thus were banished from the Garden of Eden. Their choice not only affected them; it caused all humanity to be cut off from God. Like Adam and Eve, you are presented with choices. And, like them, the decisions you make will affect other – even though you may not be able to see it.
Knowledge of right and wrong
If you look around the world, you will observe confusion everywhere. The six and half billion people of this planet, have his or her own view of right and wrong. For example, among those who say that taking a human life is wrong, there are various philosophies as to when it would be “right”. Then, there are those who say lying is wrong, but think that there are circumstances in which deceit, such as “little white lies”, would be acceptable. Why do people not agree? Because human beings do not inherently know right from wrong! One may think he has all the answers, concluding that a particular idea is correct, ignorant of how wrong he is. We read in the Bible: “the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23). And, in the proverbs, Solomon stated this fact: “There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death” (14:12). Even a cursory look at our society, the truth of Solomon’s statement, inspired by God, should be most obvious. The truth and reality is that God – and only God – can set the standard for right and wrong. As our creator, he has this authority. If you were to invent a new piece of machinery, you would know for what purpose you invented it. And you would write an instruction manual on how to use it. God designed and created us, with the Holy Scriptures as our instruction book. God’s word lays the groundwork from which to base our decisions. Character involves making the right decisions. Without the knowledge of the absolute truth, character-building is not possible. The Holy Scriptures lay down God’s great spiritual law – the absolute truth. Sin is the transgression of God’s law, with death or destruction being the result.
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Mystique of shrines
By Marc de Souza
Old Goa is the place which has an abundance of historical beauty and can soak up hours and hours of appreciation. Its gothic towers and glittering roofs fill the place with an air of dignity and splendour. The visitors pass the numerous niches filled with time worn saints, into its galaxy of spirit. How quiet and dim interior. All get deeply touched.
Born of the earth, sculptured, used and admired by men, stones make up lovely churches, temples, mosques and stately structures; stones which bond together and support noble edifices. It is lovely to see those old stones, the proof of their quality and power of endurance. To see huge blocks of stones from which the Old Goa churches are made is a great delight. Retaining their timeless majesty, the stones seem to look down on ages past and present. If they could speak, they would tell tales of men and women, Portuguese, Goans and others, who have passed them by or sheltered in their shade, or found refuge within their walls. The awesome thing about great stones and buildings is they will persevere, when we are gone. Many of them will stand somehow and somewhere until the end of the world, having fulfilled in their day a stable and immovable task, witnessing in their silent way to the success and failure of mankind, and civilisation around them.
Think of the oldest stones, in places like Athens and Rome, and in so many places in India and elsewhere. Generations still to come, will travel far to admire them and to imagine what glories they have witnessed throughout the history of the world.
Unlike King Tut, we know “you can’t take it with you”. The great problem seems to be that most of us want to leave a piece of self behind, to ensure some form of immortality. We seek ways to make our mark on the world. For some, this need seems fulfilled in their children. Yet, this merely assures continuity of the family name. Only a few years after death, persons will be forgotten. The same is true of those who will build monuments to their existence, in the form of buildings and foundations. The names are before us, but the real person seems lost. We need not be ashamed of our wish to leave our mark on the community. It is part of our nature.
Theology begins when one looks around and reflects on the day-to-day life which ebbs and flows. A proud world needs a humble shrine. A hate-filled world needs a prayer place on fire with love. A sinful world needs a prayer house, where grace abounds. A world that feels abandoned, needs a holy of holies that stays highly visible. A world that keeps saying: “Where is God?” needs a house of God that answers “He is in every place where children are hungry, mothers are sick, and fathers don’t have jobs. He is the unseen guest at weddings and funerals. He is in every house where strangers are welcomed. He is in every street, as a guardian angel, where danger threatens. He is in every office and factory where honest work is done. He is a power behind the beauty of the night sky, and he is in humble things. He is especially sensitive to the poor.“
No wonder, thousands tread to Old Goa, more especially the far flung Goans, during the annual feast of Saint Francis Xavier, who devoted his life for the poor and the downtrodden, and a few come away without – even if only within themselves – some minor stirring. One of the greatest miracles that Goa is relatively peaceful, is the presence felt of St Francis Xavier. That’s the kind of security of faith generated by devotions to the Saint. Any wonder, then, that his name should be on every Goan’s lips?
A prominent feature of the Holy Gospel is its universal appeal that the Father in Heaven loves all his creatures, big and small, irrespective of creed, caste, class and colour.
