How To Define A Mans Character

Please be advised, “parental warning” this article contains profanity.

My mom used to say, “You walk like your dad.”

A family friend once commented, “You must be one of Johnny Walleye’s little minnows.”

And a high school psychology teacher said, “You remind me of your brother Tony.”

No one has ever said, commented, or mentioned what they thought my character was… beyond my external “tail waggin’s.”

No mentions of my “integrity,” “boldness,” “honesty,” or any (if I have any) “moral fiber.”

I have been called, “a drunk,” “a stubborn little shit,” “stubborn… period,” “an asshole,” “another one of those Bosquez’s,” but no mentions of my good work ethic, my consistency, or charm. (wink wink ladies;)

In the “manliness industry” we talk about character all the time.

But character is carved into our hearts, souls, and minds. You can’t see it.

And all of our personal “tag waggings” are a bit edited… a veneer… an edited mask of behaviors for the world to see, what we want them to see.

Because we know what our character is… on the inside… and in our estimation… it is, to say the least, lacking.

If you haven’t noticed in my writings yet, I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I go to the bible when I want to expand my understanding on certain words.

Today’s word “character” is one of my favorites.

I’ll be exploring it more in coming articles.

Today I’ll leave you with this, from Strongs Greek concordance…

5481 xaraktḗr – properly, an engraving; (figuratively) an exact impression (likeness) which also reflects inner character.

[5481 /xaraktḗr was originally a tool (used for engraving) and then came to mean “a die” (“mould”).

Finally it stood for a stamp or impress used on a coin or seal (see H, 368). In each case, the stamp conveyed the reality behind the image.]

The Greek fathers (ad 100 -500) used 5481 /xaraktḗr (“the ultimate radiance“) of the supreme effulgence of Christ, showing forth His glory as the second Person of the eternal Godhead (Heb 1:3).