Reflecting on Article from Weekend Encounter tiled The Scorpion and Human Nature By Michael Josephson of CHARACTER COUNTS (825.5). I reproduce the article here for your reflection as well... Wish a nice reading The Scorpion and Human Nature By Michael Josephson of CHARACTER COUNTS (825.5) Terry and his dad Glen were walking along the shore and came upon a scorpion struggling in the tide, trying to get back to the sand. Glen tried to scoop the creature up, but the scorpion stung him and fell back into the tide. Glen tried again and was stung again. Terry said, Dad, leave him alone! Hes not worth saving. But Glen tried one more time. This time he was successful and threw it onto the sand. Terry said, Why waste time on an ornery critter whos too stupid to know its being helped? Glen answered, Son, the scorpion stings by instinct. Its his nature. I chose to help him because thats my nature. Glen was teaching his son a profound moral lesson about being human. Like other species, were born with an instinct for survival and a disposition towards selfishness. Yet, blessed by a sense of compassion and the power to reason, we also have an instinct to think and act beyond our self-interest. Human nature is complex. Its as much in our nature to be kind, loving, and generous as it is to be cruel, selfish, and dishonest. We can nurture or ignore our nobler instincts. Some people act like scorpions. Trapped by negative instincts and response patterns, they think its their nature and hide behind the belief, Thats the way I am. No one is born with good or bad character. Were born with the capacity to have either, to choose our ultimate nature. When we choose to be good, we are good. This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 06:17:35 +0000
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