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KIDS OF CHARACTER 1/26/2009
Mentoring To Build Kids of Character
Character mentors....parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, community leaders and volunteers are legacy practitioners. Character mentors realize that a well-lived life moves beyond the boundaries of the personal practice of life affirming, positive virtues. Character mentors influence. They leave a life story that lives beyond their own life. Character mentors realize that modeling and teaching character to the kids they can influence is the practice of one’s search for significance. When Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, stated, “It’s not about you,” he captured the perennial wisdom that a well-lived life is not narcissistic preoccupation about personal success. Clearly, ‘me and mine’ is not the vision of immortality. An individual’s life-long personal pursuit of the virtuous life is not simply for personal benefit. Rather, it represents the necessary preparation that precedes gift giving. The gift of modeling and teaching attributes of a noble character directs an individual beyond the self-preoccupation of ‘my success’ and moves toward the commitment of humanity’s success. Those who do envision their life as virtue-driven story telling, discover they are living a life that shall outlive them. Every child and young adult is blessed when their life intersects with such adults. As a youngster, I was fortunate to be influenced by such people. My parents were part of a team that I now understand were part of a small community of significant folks, including a 5th grade teacher, a high school coach, a pastor and an important neighborhood parent. I was positively influenced to pursue the story of building a noble character because I benefited by having these people assets come along side of me. Today, I am passing that experience along to those I can influence. Is it important work to be a mentor for character? To answer that question, do four things: First ask: how do I want to bring personal influence to America’s tomorrow? Second, identify the children you can mentor. Third, start. Fourth, don’t stop!
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