Today I was pondering what you would hear from your middle school teacher:

"Character is what you do when no one is looking."

Even though it sounds so simple, but yet it's very deep. Why do we choose style over substance? charisma over character? Why do we honor those who are the loudest and tout their accomplishments and ignore and neglect those who live with integrity away from the spotlight? Why do we choose "do" over "be?" Why are we willing to ignore character and integrity issues and forgo accountability for people who produce for you?

I think it's been constantly validated by experience to me that you will always find people with many gifts and talents. But if those gifts and talents are not flowing out of character and integrity, it is basically worthless. Character and integrity are indispensable. I love that God has high standards. This is not to say that we are called to be perfect, because we will always fall short, which includes especially me! We are not called to be legalistic. But I love that God has high standards for His children because He wants what's best for us.