A Candidate’s Character Does Count

We are again approaching that collective decision-making event known as national, state and local elections. In November we will cast our votes based on our belief that some candidates best represent our views of how our nation, state and local governments should be run.

Over the next year we will be subjected to a constant barrage of information and misinformation designed to influence our thinking. Before the political dust gets too thick, I suggest we begin our thinking based on character and honor.

This requires all of us to think about the candidates and the electoral process, rather than simply being passive recipients of political propaganda. Which candidates take responsibility for their actions and which candidates hide behind dust clouds of spin doctoring and obfuscation?

This is not just a political question--this is also a question of theological and ethical orientation.

If we truly believe in free will, that God has given us the freedom to choose, then we have an ontological obligation to make choices and accept the consequences of our choices. Far too many of our political candidates base their decisions on polls and plausible deniability instead of on ethical considerations that transcend capricious political winds.

Setting Goals, Tackling Them

When my family was on vacation in Colorado last summer, my two sons wanted to climb a mountain. I took them up a mountain that I thought would sufficiently exhaust them so they would forget about any more difficult climbs.

But afterward, my 15-year-old said he wanted to climb Long’s Peak--a difficult climb. Three people had been killed while attempting to climb it in the previous two weeks.

I had climbed it numerous times in my youth and knew it could be difficult and dangerous. Nevertheless, I knew my son was capable and also knew how important it is for young people to meet challenges and succeed. My son wanted to challenge himself against the highest, toughest peak around and so, with some trepidation, we made the climb.

As we climbed I felt pride in my son and fear for him. I could guide him, help him see where he was doing something wrong, but I could not climb for him and, if he made a bad enough mistake, I could not save him from injury or possibly even death.

The way up was tough, but it was more than worthwhile when we stood on top and hugged one another with joy. The way down was harder, made even more difficult by rain, hail and poor visibility.

At one point we took a wrong turn and had to climb back up for a while before we could continue on the correct course.

We were cold, wet and exhausted by the end of the day, but we made it and, in retrospect it was more than worth the effort. It was a day we will never forget.

Striving to Live Honorably

That day was a metaphor for the way God relates to us. God wants all of us to climb as high as we can. God wants all of us to grow and succeed. God is present with us, seeking to guide us, to warn us of dangers and encourage us when we tire.

But God cannot climb for us. God cannot keep us safe if we make bad choices and endanger ourselves. God cannot keep us from losing our way and getting lost, but God does encourage us when we have to climb back up to find our way.

God has granted humanity free will. God has given us courage and faith and hope so we may strive to meet the challenges we encounter on our journeys.

We could live without seeking any challenges, but a life with no challenges would be drab indeed. The spirit of God urges us forward, lures us to become all we are capable of becoming.

As God-created beings imbued with free will, we are obligated to strive to be our best. We are called to live honorably and well. To do so should be the goal of each of us and a standard by which we consider those who would lead us. We will consider many issues during the upcoming campaigns; let us consider character as well as causes.

On Faith is a forum for Orange County clergy and others to offer their views on religious topics of general interest. Submissions, which will be published at the discretion of The Times and are subject to editing, should be delivered to Orange County religion page editor Jack Robinson.