I was watching the movie “Sneakers” the other day and a scene at the end struck me.  The team of good guys have a chance to trade a special computer to the NSA and get almost anything they want in return.  While the rest of the team asks for Winnebago’s and trips to Europe, River Phoenix’ character asks for a female NSA Agents’ phone number, which I thought was brilliant.  But then Whistler, the blind guy on the team, asks for peace on Earth and goodwill toward men!  I love that he asks for that out of all the things to ask for!  The agent in charge says “We don’t do that sort of thing” to which the good guys reply “You’re just gonna have to try”.

For Whistler (and the rest of the team) it was a defining moment, which is “a point at which the essential nature or character of a person is revealed or identified”.  As the saying goes: adversity doesn’t build character, it reveals it.  We are building our own character, good or bad, everyday.  If we are careful we can hide the weaknesses in our character but at some point when we are stressed, stretched and tempted our true character will be revealed.  When that time comes I can only hope to be as sharp as the blind guy from “Sneakers”.

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