It seems
that young people in China are beginning to forget how to write the characters
that comprise the beautiful calligraphy of their traditional language. Some are
calling the phenomenon “character amnesia.” Heavy usage of computers and smart
phones often means that writing is neglected and some can no longer remember
the characters they learned in childhood. One young man said, “People don’t write
anything by hand anymore except for [their] name and address.”
Some
people appear to have “character amnesia” of a different sort. When faced with
a dilemma, they seem to “forget” the right thing to do and instead choose the
easy way out.
God
called Job “a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8).
God allowed Satan to take everything Job had—his children, his wealth, and his
health. But despite his heart-wrenching circumstances, Job refused to curse
God. “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong” (v.22). Satan had
challenged God’s assertion of Job’s blameless character, but he was proven
wrong.
Character
amnesia? No. Character is who we are; it’s not something we “forget.” Those who
have a loss of character make a choice.
When
wealth is gone, little is lost; when health is gone, something is lost; but
when character is gone, all is lost! (RBC)
