Character is forged in the heat of life

Life happens, but how we choose to respond can diminish us or build us, explains Malcolm Hathaway

Malcom Hathaway

Forty years ago, a young Somali woman, Aisha Kahin, gave birth to twin boys. When war took her husband’s life, she could no longer support her family and sent one of her twins, Hussein, now eight, to Djibuti to be raised by a new family. From there, he was brought to the UK.

By that time, his identity had been lost and he was given a new name. Used as child labour, he had no schooling until he was twelve. His only escape was running. It took him to four Olympic gold medals and six world titles. His name, of course, was Mohammed Farah. In his words: “What saved me and made me different was that I could run.”

We can all run – few like Mo Farah! With the Roman arena in mind the writer of Hebrews says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin which so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race marked out for us,” (Hebrews 12:1). A great manual for a Christian life.

Life can be hard, like a marathon, but it builds endurance if we run it well. Paul says, “Suffering produces endurance; endurance character; and character hope,” (Romans 5:3-4). Personality and temperament you are born with; character is forged in the heat of life – the battles you fight, the suffering you endure. Few of us choose the things we face any more than what we are born with. Life happens, but how we choose to respond can diminish us or build us.

Hebrews 12 reminds us that it really is ‘our’ choice. To accept defeat or decide to run. To allow the hard things of life to build endurance, resilience and strength of character.

Character speaks of being tried and tested. Thomas Telford built the world’s first suspension bridge in 1826 – across the Menai Straits. Today, approaching its 200th anniversary, it stands as majestic as ever! Peter speaks of our faith being proved genuine by trials, like gold refined by fire (1 Peter 1:7). Paul encouraged his trainee Timothy to fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12).

Character means integrity; it means you are who you say you are. It means people know they can trust you. God knows how we need that in every walk of life. The lack of trust in leadership is endemic in our society – and all too easily creeps into the church. We need to be outrunners in building trust through integrity. People are trusted not for what they know but for who they are.

Character creates hope. That uniquely Christian jewel. The world is crying out for hope. We are called to be carriers of hope!

It was through a chance encounter in a Somali restaurant that Mo Farah discovered his mother and brothers were alive and still living in Somalia. Imagine the joy when they were reunited! What a picture of hope! Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ. The true hope of the world. This generation will find that true hope in us if what saves us and makes us different is that we can run.

Malcolm taught at Regents Theological College before pastoring several Elim churches. Today he shares leadership in Bournemouth and chairs Elim’s Pension Fund. He is married to Lorna and father of Clive and Clare.

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.

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