More Opinions Columnists

• V.B. Price: Preserving our water is greatest challenge the city, state faces
• Jeffry Gardner: End of The Trib is part of the demise of serious journalism
• Katherine Augustine: Time with friends from Japan provides treasured memories

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

"The world has the habit of making room for the one whose words and actions show that he knows where he is going."

A master 20th century teacher of the power of thought, Napoleon Hill, penned these words in his classic book, Think and Grow Rich. They remind us that the epicenter for life movement begins in the stillness of focused thinking.

Rick Warren, pastor and author of the enormously important book, "The Purpose Driven Life," appeared on CNN's "Larry King Live." During the interview he was asked, "Why are we here on earth?" Warren's response can be paraphrased briefly: "We are here to prepare for eternity and our earthly work is about character development."

Have you ever wondered why some people's life ship continually circles in the numbing harbor of mediocrity? The fact is it's easy to manage our life ship when the waters are constantly warm and comforting. Seeking such comfort is not the work of character development. The real test of character is discovered when our ship of state ventures forth in the open seas of adversity, challenge, ambivalence, uncertainty, doubt and discouragement.

Parents, grandparents and teachers, who have used their life for adventures on the high seas of character development, can serve as character guides to youngsters who are just learning how to maneuver out of the harbor of comfort into the exhilarating challenge of living.

The mentoring that adults can bring is teaching the task of focused attention.

The year 2007 provides renewed opportunity for adult character mentors to remind the kids they care about that it's important to focus attention on a character skill. We can remind kids that it's important to commit to the daily practice of a character life skill like trustworthiness.

This skill is significant because it plays into every aspect of our daily life. Trustworthiness focuses on accountability: meaning what we say and following through with our responsibilities.

The character call is experienced by youngsters when they are mentored by caring adults who remind kids to focus, focus, focus on the little character acts that shape our day.