“Character = the ability to meet the demands of reality.” Henry Cloud

This quote is ringing true for me this week. It’s just a season in my life but I’m aware of people around me coping with trials.  

A son who died too soon.

A sister fighting addiction.

A sister slowly winding down as her heart continues toward failure.  

A colleague left work and was gone in a car accident an hour later.  

A family caring for their elderly parents with not much hope for improvement.  

At the moment, the trials I face are light.  Nothing compared to these others.  

So, character matters because life is real.  It is hard.  Don’t mean to be a killjoy, but at some point, we all have that hard reality come up close to us.  

But I know this: one of the keys to having the ability to meet the demands of reality is the community you build before that reality strikes.  

Family, church, the people you recreate with when you are out in the community.  Those who you work with here.  

Your community sustains you through hardship.  You have a chance to have the character you need when reality demands it, if you are actively building your community around you where you live, work, and play.  

Be a community builder.  Contribute every way you can.  Invest in your communities.  You will have what it takes when character demands it.