My husband & I were asked last December 17, 2011 to lecture in a group of young people pertaining to what's really important - your character or your reputation. Both are important, in my own point of view. Came December 23, solo-flight, I used the topic to discuss within a more larger group of Pastors' Kids. I even asked one of the oldest (he's older than me 10 years actually and already a minister handling a church in Bukidnon) if for him, what's more important - character or reputation? To which he readily replied - reputation.
Reputation is what matters to most of us. But, what does reputation means? According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, it is an opinion about one's entity, a result of social evaluation on a set of criteria, may be considered as a component of the identity as defined by others. Please take note of the words used - OPINION and EVALUATION. My husband defines reputation as what others think of you - may it be highly or the other way around. And We both have the same view.
Character I define is a result of your attitude, your inner you, what you think, what you feel and who you really are. Just like cartoon characters, Tom is known as the cat who sometimes befriends Jerry the mouse but frequently races after the latter because of Jerry's nuisance in his peaceful living. Make another story using Tom and he will not be recognized by the viewers. Just like with Snow White and any other famous kiddie and adult multimedia faves. They are all recognized because of their characters.
"If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself." Reputation then is the product.
And where does reputation come from? It is what others think of you after you have shown them your character. And there is a 'but'. We all know we cannot please everybody. There'd be standing ovation, there'd be people without no reaction at all and there'd be people who tend to look for flaws. It's normal and I mean natural. Remember the cliché. We cannot control what's inside other people's heads.
A person may have a bad character but has a good reputation. And a person too can have a good character but has a wicked reputation. Either way.
Hows and musts? When we live according to the will of God, stirred inside by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, living with a conscience, walking in the pathways of good - that'll be our character. Let our reputation be from our Lord. After all, it's Him whom we're living for. We may be marred and thoroughly stained in the eyes of the flesh, but in Heaven's eyes - we are the most precious.
