UncommonSense
From Ohio
Secretary of State's Office
The
Critical Importance of Truth:
1. SEEKING WISDOM: Ethical or high-character
people courageously seek something greater than intelligence
or knowledge (knowing what is); they seek wisdom (knowing what
is right or true). Wisdom must logically
culminate in the identification of conscience-convicting truth
to be intellectually honest. Hence, the relentless
pursuit of truth, its source and its compelling advocacy is the
moral objective of ethical, character-building people. (Observable
Virtues: principled, prudent, contemplative)
Applying Truth First to Ourselves:
2. FIDELITY: High-character people courageously strive to be
what they say they are. Their behavior matches their beliefs.
As a result, they resist the temptation to sacrifice “what
is right or wise” for “what might work or be popular”
and overcome private and peer temptations that would render them
hypocrites. Only those who strive after what is true and then
first apply this consistently to themselves, are capable of authentically
creating order and building trust (the prerequisites to relationships)
within their organizations, marriages, families, fellowships,
friendships, teams, etc. (Observable Virtues: courageous, sober,
reflective, selfaware, single-minded)
Applying Truth in our Relationships:
3. INTEGRITY: High-character people do what they say they will
do. Because of their habits of wisdom and fidelity, they demonstrate
the courage of their convictions by doing what they say they
will do even when there is great pressure to do otherwise. As
a result, they do not manipulate anything or anyone at any time.
(Observable Virtues: consistent, predictable, orderly, faithful,
guileless)
4. COMPASSION FOR OTHERS: High-character people are compelled by
wisdom, fidelity and integrity to extend unmerited kindness to
others as an act of the will. They are compelled by an operative
conscience (rather than their emotions alone) to be genuinely
benevolent and sacrificially giving. They abhor meanness, cruelty
and neglect of others. Act of- the-will compassion makes loving
the “hard-to-love,” possible. (Observable Virtues:
kind, gentle, patient, benevolent, generous)
5. HONESTY: High-character people speak the truth with compassion.
Ethical people speak up, present their facts with thoughtful
accuracy, and do so with compassion. They are not avoiders; they
are carefronters: they confront because they care. They clearly
qualify their yes and no and thereby minimize misunderstandings.
They do not deliberately mislead or deceive others by misrepresentations,
overstatements, partial truths, selective omissions or other
intentional means. They take responsibility and do not shift
blame. To avoid confusing others, high-character people break
habits of sarcasm and cynicism. To avoid inflaming others, they
avoid sanctimonious and condescending tones. (Observable Virtues:
discrete, discerning)
6. JUSTICE: High-character people
uphold truth, expose error and correct wrongs. Just people are
diligent in weighing evidence. They contend for truth and perform
vigorous and unbiased examinations of individuals and information.
Just people do not oppress powerless persons, or condemn innocent
persons; they protect them. In the process of affirming good
and reproving evil, they strive not to be harsh, exasperating
or manipulative. Just people strain to objectively determine
what outcome, however difficult or painful, is right. (Observable
Virtues: upright, bold, diligent, decisive)
7. ACCOUNTABILITY:
High-character people scrutinize themselves and welcome the
scrutiny of others. They acknowledge that human nature compels
us toward independence. Our preference for independence results
in isolation from one another. Isolation breeds temptation to
unethical conduct. High character people resist this chain reaction
by adopting transparent life- and work-styles that invite inspection.
They place themselves in relationships that motivate self-examination
and encourage constructive critique from others, particularly
those they serve. (Observable Virtues: an open, up-front, disclosing
spirit)
8. RESPECT: High-character
people treat others as they would want to be treated. They have
an accurate view of the human condition;
namely that every person is capable
of both dignified and depraved conduct. As a result, they weigh
the intrinsic worth of others as exactly equal to their own worth.
This is why people of character are convicted by the Golden Rule.
This conviction makes valuing diverse roles, giftedness, skills,
style, personality, race, religion, and genders logical if not
irresistible. Respect leads diverse people to value the dignity
of others while having the liberty to passionately disagree with
their opinions (opinions that can be influenced by our
depravity). (Observable Virtue: an inclusive, engaging and honoring
spirit)
9. PROMISE-KEEPING & TRUSTWORTHINESS: High-character people
do not break their word with others. Because they prize interpersonal
trust, they do not make promises lightly; they are candid in
supplying relevant information and they are diligent in fulfilling
their commitments. They make every reasonable effort to fulfill
the letter and the spirit of their promises. They tirelessly
maintain a promised confidence. They do not interpret agreements
in any unreasonably technical or legalistic manner in order to
rationalize non-compliance or to justify escaping their promises.
(Observable Virtue: faithfulness)
10. EXCELLENCE: High-character people strive to be their best
knowing that this enables them to do their best every day. Ethical
people experience good “being” that fuels great “doing.”
Excellence is the result of high character merging with high
competence. Excellence is a high task achieved virtuously. When
high-character people collaborate, they produce a “culture
of excellence.” True and enduring organizational excellence,
therefore, is only sustainable by people of high character. (Observable
Virtues: selfcontrol, discipline, enthusiasm, pureness of heart,
persevering spirit)
11. SERVING-LEADERSHIP: High-character people sacrifice themselves
for those they lead. Serving-leaders model and mentor high-character
conduct and produce an inspiring environment in which their sacrificial
example of serving others produces relational harmony, principled
reasoning, effective communication, clear mission, constant learning
and character- rich decision-making. Leaders of high character
produce cultures of character where followers increasingly manifest
virtues rather than vices. (Observable Virtues: courage, humility,
selflessness)
12. UNITY: High-character people
strive to build relationships that foster oneness among others
who are bound with them to a common promise, mission or purpose.
Ethical organizations seek uniformity in their people's shared
character ethics and unity among their otherwise richly diverse
people. Without a persevering commitment to shared character
ethics, there is no hope for sustainable unity. (Observable Virtue:
reconciler)
13. FORGIVENESS: Because they know they are far from perfect,
people of high character are humble and they extend to and receive
from others, unmerited acceptance. Character breaches separate
people. Separation injures conscience. High-character people
forgive and genuinely seek forgiveness to reconcile or restore
their relationship with any person to whom they have committed
a character lapse. Seeking forgiveness requires a confession
of error by the offender. Rendering forgiveness is a radical
act of undeserved understanding (or grace) by the offended. High-character
people are thankful when forgiven and are motivated to forgive
inevitable offenses against them. They forgive others and seek
the forgiveness of others intentionally. (Observable Virtues:
humility, patience, gratefulness, long-suffering)
14. HONORING AUTHORITY: All people
are imperfect, requiring boundaries for behavior. High-character
people willingly yield to the authority of those who are charged
with upholding those boundaries. They help shape and then abide
by the legitimate laws, rules and boundaries established by legitimate
authorities and strive to live within those boundaries for the
betterment of all people. When those given authority violate
conscience-convicting character ethics, high-character people
take wise action to justly hold them accountable. (Observable
Virtues: yieldedness, submission / “aligned with the mission”)
15. LIBERTY: High-character people
preserve their public rights by fulfilling their personal responsibilities.
In order to preserve public freedoms, every person must exercise
private restraints. Therefore, free people embrace self-control
so the need for public controls is minimized. As a result, high-character
people communicate and live out character ethics and intentionally
exhort others to do likewise as an active act of preserving liberty
for everyone. (Observable Virtues: temperance, self-control)
16. LEARNING & MENTORING: High-character people are lifelong
wisdom-seekers and wisdom-advancers. They have both a teachable
and a teaching spirit. They impart truth to the uninformed. They
reduce ignorance by illuminating the disenfranchised. They multiply
character-based people and leaders. They nurture teaching relationships
in order to maximize the character and competency of others:
they are mentors. Mentors endeavor to invest their lives in others
in order to help them help others to attain their greatest potential.
(Observable Virtues: curiosity, creativity, teachability, inspiration)
17. STEWARDSHIP: High-character
people live as if they will eventually reap what they sow. They
actively identify with the role of trustee or steward rather
than owner. They perceive their function as a resource or role
“caretaker” for a limited time. As a result they regard
“positions” and “possessions” as “conferred
in temporary trust.” Therefore, they care for their respective
positions and possessions diligently and seek to add value to
every role and every resource to which they have been entrusted.
Ethical people have a high regard for multiplying the value of
their “accounts” for the purpose of serving others
and benefiting those who follow. (Observable Virtues: humility,
orderliness, carefulness)
18. SEEKING COUNSEL: High-character
people seek wise counsel, particularly when confronted with issues
that cause tension and/or confusion between two or more character
ethics. Because they are guided by their tireless pursuit of
truth, they regularly seek the wisdom of others of high character.
After they weigh this counsel, they act. The goal of this process
is wise action (what is right), rather than popular action (what
would make one appear good) or pragmatic action (what might appear
to work). The result of a decision made with wise counsel is
a clear conscience and the fruit of a clear conscience is contentment.
(Observable Virtues: thoughtfulness, patience, discernment, confidence)
Our Ability to Change:
19. SUBMISSION TO TRUTH: Truth transforms people only when we
submit to it. People who seek truth cannot not transform. Eventually
everyone confronts the power of truth. When people of conscience
are confronted by what is true, they feel convicted to replace
or “put off” their lower character by pursuing and
“putting on” high-character ethics. Taking action on
this choice can occur over night or over a long and often painful
period.
20. VALIDATING TRANSFORMATION: Over time, high-character people
exhibit consistent hope-giving and conscience-affirming character
virtues that are the outer proof of inner-character ethics. Virtues
and vices are simply the observable fruits that spring forth
from either healthy or corrupted roots of character ethics. Therefore,
character builders must make the lost language of character ethics
their first language. Moreover, since it is fueled by one’s
daily responsibilities, not in the serenity of relaxation, character
builders must adopt an accurate view of the benefits of suffering.
Relevance to Our Daily Lives
Persevering as a character-builder is the only thing that is
truly 100% within our personal control. This means there is hope
for personal change today that is not dependent on change in
others or in our circumstances. Our conscience drives our convictions.
These convictions generate courage and this courage drives our
conduct, regardless of our past, our current circumstances, or
even cultures or settings that are hostile to high character.
Copyright 2003, American Center for Civic Character, Version
5.5) Reproduction of UncommonSense in its entirety, without modification
and for non-commercial resale use is herein granted.
|
UncommonSense Annotated
by Katherine Yurica
The Critical Importance [of He
Who Is] Truth:
1. SEEKING WISDOM
[the personification
of GOD'S WILL]: Ethical
or high-character
people courageously seek something greater than intelligence
or knowledge
[the whole body of truth or
fact] (knowing what is); they seek Wisdom [the personification
of God's will] (knowing what is right
[righteous]
or true).
Wisdom, [God's Will] must logically culminate in the identification
of conscience-convicting
truth [He
who is truth convicts the heart] to be intellectually honest.
Hence, the relentless pursuit of truth [He who is Truth], its
source
[God],
and [His]
compelling advocacy
is the moral
objective of ethical, character-building people. (Observable
Virtues: principled, prudent, contemplative)
Applying [Him Who Is]Truth First to Ourselves:
2. FIDELITY:
[MISMATCHED WITH DESCRIPTION] [PRETENSELESS]:
High-character people courageously
strive to be what they say they are. Their behavior matches their
beliefs. As a result, they resist the temptation
to sacrifice
“what is right or wise” for “what might work
or be popular” and overcome private and peer temptations
that would render them hypocrites.
Only those who strive after what is true
and then first apply this consistently to themselves, are capable
of authentically
creating order and building trust (the prerequisites to relationships)
within their organizations, marriages, families, fellowships,
friendships, teams, etc.
(Observable Virtues: courageous,
sober, reflective, selfaware, single-minded)
Applying Truth in our Relationships:
3. INTEGRITY:
High-character people do what they say they will do. Because
of their habits of wisdom and fidelity, they demonstrate the
courage of their convictions
by doing what they say they will do even when there is great
pressure to do otherwise. As a result, they do not manipulate
anything or anyone at any time. (Observable Virtues: consistent,
predictable, orderly, faithful, guileless)
4. COMPASSION FOR OTHERS: High-character people are compelled
by wisdom [God's
will,] fidelity and integrity to extend unmerited
kindness to others [Grace]
as an act of the will. They are compelled by an operative
conscience (rather than their emotions alone) to be genuinely
benevolent
and sacrificially
giving [something
consecrated and offered
to God].
They abhor meanness, cruelty and neglect of others. Act of- the-will
compassion makes loving the “hard-to-love,” possible.
(Observable Virtues: kind, gentle, patient, benevolent, generous)
5. HONESTY: High-character people speak the truth with compassion.
Ethical
people speak up, present their facts with thoughtful accuracy,
and do so with compassion. They are not avoiders; they are carefronters:
they confront because they care. They clearly qualify their yes
and no and thereby minimize misunderstandings. They do not deliberately
mislead or deceive others by misrepresentations, overstatements,
partial truths, selective omissions or other intentional means.
They take responsibility and do not shift blame. To avoid confusing
others, high-character people break habits of sarcasm and cynicism.
To avoid inflaming others, they avoid sanctimonious and condescending
tones. (Observable Virtues: discrete, discerning)
6. JUSTICE:
High-character people uphold truth, expose error and correct
wrongs. Just
people [live by faith and] are
diligent in weighing evidence. They contend for truth and perform
vigorous and unbiased examinations of individuals and information.
Just
people [live by faith and] do not oppress powerless persons,
or condemn innocent persons; they protect them. In the process
of affirming
good
and reproving
evil,
they strive not to be harsh, exasperating or manipulative. Just
people [live by faith and] strain to objectively determine
what outcome, however difficult or painful, is right. (Observable
Virtues: upright, bold, diligent, decisive)
7. ACCOUNTABILITY:
High-character people scrutinize
themselves and welcome the scrutiny
of others. They acknowledge that human
nature compels us toward independence. Our
preference for independence
[for freedom and liberty] results in isolation from one another.
Isolation breeds temptation to unethical conduct [hence freedom
and liberty breed temptation to unethical conduct.] High character
people resist this chain reaction by adopting transparent
life- and work-styles that invite inspection.
They place themselves in relationships that motivate self-examination
and encourage constructive critique from others, particularly
those they serve. (Observable Virtues: an open, up-front,
disclosing spirit)
8. RESPECT: High-character people treat
others as they would want to be treated. They have an accurate
view of the human condition; namely that every person
is capable of both dignified
[appearance] and depraved
conduct. As a result, they weigh the intrinsic worth of others
as exactly equal to their own worth. This is why people of character
are convicted
by
the Golden
Rule. This conviction
makes valuing diverse roles, giftedness, skills, style, personality,
race, religion, and genders logical if not irresistible. Respect
[esteem for a person] leads diverse people to value the dignity
of others while having the liberty to passionately
[angrily, enragedly and expressing violent feelings] disagree
with their opinions (opinions that can be influenced by our depravity
[the state of sinfulness natural to unregenerate man]). (Observable
Virtue: an inclusive, engaging and honoring spirit)
9. PROMISE-KEEPING & TRUSTWORTHINESS: [Title evokes the
Promise Keepers,
an all male
evangelical
organization committed to seven
promises] High-character people do not break their word with
others. Because they prize interpersonal trust, they do not make
promises lightly; they are candid in supplying relevant information
and they are diligent in fulfilling their commitments. They make
every reasonable effort to fulfill the letter and the spirit
of their promises. They tirelessly maintain a promised confidence.
They do not interpret agreements in any unreasonably technical
or legalistic manner in order to rationalize non-compliance or
to justify escaping their promises. (Observable Virtue: faithfulness)
10. EXCELLENCE:
High-character people strive to be their best knowing that this
enables them to do their best every day. Ethical
people experience good “being” that fuels great “doing.”
Excellence is the result of high character merging with high
competence. Excellence is a high task achieved virtuously. When
high-character people collaborate, they produce a “culture
of excellence.” True and enduring organizational excellence,
therefore, is only sustainable by people of high character. (Observable
Virtues: selfcontrol, discipline, enthusiasm, pureness of heart,
persevering spirit)
11. SERVING-LEADERSHIP:
High-character people sacrifice
themselves [offering
themselves on an altar] for those they lead. Serving-leaders
model and mentor high-character conduct and produce an inspiring
environment in which their sacrificial
example of serving
others produces relational harmony, principled reasoning,
effective communication, clear mission, constant learning and
character- rich decision-making. Leaders of high character produce
cultures of character where followers increasingly manifest virtues
rather than vices. (Observable Virtues: courage, humility, selflessness)
12. UNITY:
[SINGLENESS] High-character people strive to build relationships
that foster oneness
[singleness] among others who are bound with them to a common
promise, mission or purpose. Ethical
organizations seek uniformity
in their people's shared character ethics
[moral
code] and unity
among their otherwise richly diverse people. Without a persevering
commitment to shared character ethics
[moral
code], there is no hope for sustainable unity.
(Observable Virtue: reconciler)
13. FORGIVENESS: Because they
know they are far from perfect, people of high character are
humble
and they extend to and receive from others, unmerited
acceptance [grace].
Character breaches separate people.
Separation injures conscience. High-character people
forgive
and genuinely seek forgiveness to reconcile or restore their
relationship with any person to whom they have committed a character
lapse
[error].
Seeking forgiveness
requires a confession of error by the offender. Rendering forgiveness
is a radical act of undeserved understanding (or grace)
by the offended.
High-character people are thankful when forgiven and
are motivated
to forgive inevitable offenses against them. They forgive
others and seek the forgiveness of others intentionally. (Observable
Virtues: humility, patience, gratefulness, long-suffering)
14. HONORING
AUTHORITY:
All people are imperfect,
requiring boundaries
for behavior. High-character people willingly yield
to the authority
of those who are charged with upholding those boundaries.
They [high-character people] help shape and then abide by the
legitimate laws, rules and boundaries established
by legitimate authorities
and strive to live within those boundaries for the betterment
of all people. When those given authority violate conscience-convicting
character ethics, high-character people take wise action to justly
hold them accountable.
(Observable Virtues: yieldedness, submission / “aligned
with the mission”)
15. LIBERTY:
High-character people preserve their public rights by fulfilling
their personal responsibilities. In order to preserve public
freedoms, every person must exercise private restraints. Therefore,
free people embrace self-control so the need for public controls
is minimized. As a result, high-character people communicate
and live out character ethics and intentionally exhort
others to do likewise as an active act of preserving liberty
for everyone. (Observable Virtues: temperance, self-control)
16. LEARNING & MENTORING: High-character people are lifelong
wisdom-seekers
[seekers of God's Will] and wisdom-advancers. They have both
a teachable and a teaching spirit. They impart truth to the uninformed.
They reduce ignorance by illuminating
the disenfranchised.
They multiply
character-based people and leaders. They nurture teaching
relationships in order to maximize the character and competency
of others: they are mentors. Mentors endeavor to invest their
lives in others in order to help them help others to attain their
greatest potential. (Observable Virtues: curiosity, creativity,
teachability, inspiration)
17. STEWARDSHIP:
High-character people live as if they will eventually reap
what they sow [Galatians 6:7] They actively identify with
the role of trustee or steward
rather than owner.
They perceive their function as a resource or role “caretaker”
for a limited
time. As a result they regard “positions” and “possessions”
as “conferred in temporary
trust.” Therefore, they care for their respective positions
and possessions diligently and seek to add value to every
role and every resource to which they have been entrusted. Ethical
people have a high regard for multiplying
the value of their “accounts” for the purpose of
serving others and benefiting those who follow. (Observable Virtues:
humility, orderliness, carefulness)
18. SEEKING COUNSEL: High-character people seek wise counsel,
particularly when confronted with issues that cause tension and/or
confusion between two or more character ethics. Because they
are guided by their tireless pursuit of truth, they regularly
seek the wisdom of others of high character. After they weigh
this counsel, they act. The goal of this process is wise action
(what is right), rather than popular action (what would make
one appear good) or pragmatic action (what might appear to work).
The result of a decision made with wise counsel is a clear conscience
and the fruit of a clear conscience is contentment. (Observable
Virtues: thoughtfulness, patience, discernment, confidence)
Our Ability to Change:
19. SUBMISSION TO TRUTH: Truth transforms
people only when we submit to it. People who seek truth cannot
not transform.
Eventually everyone confronts the power of truth.
When people of conscience are confronted by what is true, they
feel convicted
to replace or “put
off” their lower character [put off the old man with
his deeds Gal. 3: 8-14] by pursuing
and “putting on” [as the
elect of God] high-character ethics. Taking action on this choice
can occur over night or over a long and often painful period.
20. VALIDATING TRANSFORMATION:
Over time, high-character people exhibit consistent hope-giving
and conscience-affirming character virtues that are the outer
proof of inner-character ethics. Virtues and vices are simply
the observable fruits
that spring forth from either healthy or corrupted roots
of character ethics [Matthew 7:17-20]. Therefore, character builders
must make the lost language of character ethics their first language.
Moreover, since it is fueled by one’s daily responsibilities,
not in the serenity of relaxation, character builders must adopt
an accurate view of the benefits of suffering.
Relevance to Our Daily Lives
Persevering as a character-builder is the only thing that is
truly 100% within our personal control. This means there is hope
for personal change today that is not dependent on change in
others or in our circumstances. Our conscience drives our convictions.
These convictions generate courage and this courage drives our
conduct, regardless of our past, our current circumstances, or
even cultures or settings that are hostile to high character.
Copyright 2003, American Center for Civic Character, Version
5.5) Reproduction of UncommonSense in its entirety, without modification
and for non-commercial resale use is herein granted.
|