There sure seems to be a lot of talk in our country today about class. Unfortunately, in my humble opinion, this discussion centers around the wrong kind of class. Our obsessive diatribe centers on people’s economic station, i.e. the middle class versus the upper class; the rich versus the poor classes; the well-informed class versus the low-information class. These contrasts foster divisiveness. There is another kind of class discussion that seems to have vanished from our national consciousness. It involves a type of class that has no barrier based upon education, position, or status. Although it has always been limited as to those who possess it, it is available to all regardless of where one comes from, what educational level one has achieved, or what possessions one has accumulated, and it is so desperately needed today. It is commonly found in those who have built and adhere to a solid character foundation based upon the principles of honesty, loyalty, respect and unselfishness. So, what is this class?
Class never runs scared. It is sure-footed and confident in the knowledge that you can meet life head-on and handle whatever comes along.
Jacob had it. Esau didn’t. Symbolically, we can look to Jacob’s wrestling match with the angel. Those who have “class” have wrestled with their own “personal” angel and won a victory that marks them thereafter.
Class never makes excuses. It takes its lumps and learns from past mistakes.
Class is considerate of others. It knows that good manners are nothing more a series of petty sacrifices.
Class bespeaks an aristocracy that has nothing to do with ancestors or money. The most affluent blueblood can be totally without class while the descendant of a Welsh miner may ooze class from every pore.
Class never tries to build itself up by tearing others down.
Class is already up and need not strive to look better by making others look worse.
Class can “walk with kings and keep its virtue, and talk with crowds and keep the common touch.” Everyone is comfortable with the person who has class – because he or she is comfortable with themself.
If you have class, you don’t need much of anything else. If you don’t have it, no matter what else you have – it doesn’t make much difference.
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” – John Wooden, Legendary UCLA Basketball Coach
Have an awe-full weekend!
William J. “Bill” Bacque