The great hope of society is individual character. Channing

Have you ever noticed that they don't pass out trophies for the truly important? Oh, sure, they give them to sports champions, spelling bee winners and best of show pigs, but not for character - maybe that's why there are so few people who are truly accomplished in this area. And then there are people like Bobby Palacio.

Bobby was a Jr. High student whose #1 goal was to set the school record for the rope climb. It seemed that he had worked forever towards this goal when finally the day arrived. He stood beneath the rope and awaited the coach's signal. The whistle blew, Bobby scrambled up the rope and reached for the top. The stopwatch revealed what Bobby had dreamed about and worked toward for so long: A new school record.

The coach had only one question - he was not sure that Bobby's hand had actually touched the top beam. It was very close and only Bobby knew for sure. Still, the question had to be asked: "Bobby, did you touch?" Bobby, still a boy but with the integrity that many grown men never achieve, simply shook his head no. "Bobby", his coach said, "you still have one more attempt. This time I want you to jump just a bit higher and give it all you have." The whistle blew, Bobby jumped and scrambled up that rope and hit the top with his hand. The result? A new school record! A new city record - perhaps even a new state record!

But, the coach was later to comment that he had been in the presence of greatness - not because of the record set for speed, but for the record and example that a Jr. High boy had set for honesty. The really fine thing about such character is that you don't need a trophy to prove that you have it. And, no amount of awards or trophies can ever compensate for the lack of it.

Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. Proverbs 12:19, NIV