December10,2014AMan'sLife,OnVirtue

TheChurchillSchoolofAdulthoodLesson#1:DevelopaMightyMoralCode

LastweekwekickedofftheWinstonChurchillSchoolofAdulthoodbytalkingabouttwocentraltenetsofgrowingupwell:embracingtheopportunitytoauthoryourlifesstory,andcultivatingacomfortwiththeseeminglycontradictoryenergiesandperspectivesthatcanmakethatstoryrichandmemorable.Withthatfoundationinplace,itstimetodelveintowhatexactlythosedivergentenergiesare.Someofthe7lessonstocomewillbeshorterandmorepractical,otherslongerandmorephilosophical.Ifiguredwedstartwiththemeatiest,mostimportant,andperhapsmostcontroversialofthemall:developinganunshakablemoralcode.Itisataskthatinvolvessomethingthatmanyofusstrugglewith:allowingforthehappycoexistenceofbothdoubtandbelief.LetsseehowChurchillwasabletoletthesetwocurrentsintermingle,whilestillmaintainingadeepbedrockofprinciples.

TheWinstonChurchillSchoolofAdulthoodLesson#1:DevelopaMightyMoralCodeChurchillsparentswerentparticularlyreligious,buthewasraisedinanenvironmentwheretheChristianfaithwastakenforgrantedasagivenpartoflife.Hehadattendedmandatorychapelmeetingsduringhisschooldays,andgenerallyacceptedwhathehadbeentold.Butwhenhebegantoreadmorewidelyinhisearlytwenties,studyingphilosophicalandscientifictextslikeDarwinsOriginofSpecies,hecametofeeltherewassimplynoempiricalevidencethatprovedtheveracityofChristianity,andplentyofrationalreasonstodoubtit.Atfirst,Winstonsangeratbeingledastraycausedhimtorejectallhisoldbeliefs,butintimehecametofeelthathedidnthavetothrowoutthebabywiththebathwaterandfithisdifferentideasintoneatcategories.Ashisexperienceissomethingmanyyoungmenwillpassthrough,andhowhegrappledwithitistomymindveryinstructive,itsworthquotinginfull:

ForatimeIwasindignantathavingbeentoldsomanyuntruths,asIthenregardedthem,bytheschoolmastersandclergywhohadguidedmyyouth.AsitwasIpassedthroughaviolentandaggressiveanti-religiousphasewhich,haditlasted,mighteasilyhavemademeanuisance.Mypoisewasrestoredduringthenextfewyearsbyfrequentcontactwithdanger.IfoundthatwhateverImightthinkandargue,Ididnothesitatetoaskforspecialprotectionwhenabouttocomeunderthefireoftheenemy:nortofeelsincerelygratefulwhenIgothomesafetotea.Ievenaskedforlesserthingsthannottobekilledtoosoon,andnearlyalwaysintheseyears,andindeedthroughoutmylife,IgotwhatIwanted.Thispracticeseemedperfectlynatural,andjustasstrongandrealasthereasoningprocesswhichcontradicteditsosharply.Moreoverthepracticewascomfortingandthereasoninglednowhere.Ithereforeactedinaccordancewithmyfeelingswithouttroublingtosquaresuchconductwiththeconclusionsofthought.Itisagoodthingforanuneducatedmantoreadbooksofquotations.BartlettsFamiliarQuotationsisanadmirablework,andIstudieditintently.Thequotationswhenengraveduponthememorygiveyougoodthoughts.Theyalsomakeyou

anxioustoreadtheauthorsandlookformore.InthisorsomeothersimilarbookIcameacrossaFrenchsayingwhichseemedsingularlyopposite.Lecurasesraisons,quelaraisonneconnaitpas.Itseemedtomethatitwouldbeveryfoolishtodiscardthereasonsoftheheartforthoseofthehead.IndeedIcouldnotseewhyIshouldnotenjoythemboth.Ididnotworryabouttheinconsistencyofthinkingonewayandbelievingtheother.Itseemedgoodtoletthemindexploresofarasitcouldthepathsofthoughtandlogic,andalsogoodtoprayforhelpandsuccour,andbethankfulwhentheycame.IcouldnotfeelthattheSupremeCreatorwhogaveusourmindsaswellasoursoulswouldbeoffendediftheydidnotalwaysrunsmoothlytogetherindoubleharness.AfterallHemusthaveforeseenthisfromthebeginningandofcourseHewouldunderstanditall.AccordinglyIhavealwaysbeensurprisedtoseesomeofourBishopsandclergymakingsuchheavyweatheraboutreconcilingtheBiblestorywithmodernscientificandhistoricalknowledge.Whydotheywanttoreconcilethem?Ifyouaretherecipientofamessagewhichcheersyourheartandfortifiesyoursoul,whichpromisesyoureunionwiththoseyouhavelovedinaworldoflargeropportunityandwidersympathies,whyshouldyouworryabouttheshapeorcolourofthetravel-stainedenvelope;whetheritisdulystamped,whetherthedateonthepostmarkisrightorwrong?Thesemattersmaybepuzzling,buttheyarecertainlynotimportant.Whatisimportantisthemessageandthebenefitstoyouofreceivingit.Closereasoningcanconductonetothepreciseconclusionthatmiraclesareimpossible:thatitismuchmorelikelythathumantestimonyshoulderr,thanthatthelawsofnatureshouldbeviolated;andatthesametimeonemayrejoicetoreadhowChristturnedthewaterintowineinCanaofGalileeorwalkedonthelakeorrosefromthedead.Thehumanbraincannotcomprehendinfinity,butthediscoveryofmathematicsenablesittobehandledquiteeasily.Theideathatnothingistrueexceptwhatwecomprehendissilly,andthatideaswhichourmindscannotreconcilearemutuallydestructive,sillierstill.Certainlynothingcouldbemorerepulsivebothtoourmindsandfeelingsthanthespectacleofthousandsofmillionsofuniversesforthatiswhattheysayitcomestonowallknockingabouttogetherforeverwithoutanyrationalorgoodpurposebehindthem.IthereforeadoptedquiteearlyinlifeasystemofbelievingwhateverIwantedtobelieve,whileatthesametimeleavingreasontopursueunfetteredwhateverpathsshewascapableoftreading.

Churchillbecameanagnosticinhisyouth,andremainedsountilhisdeath.Heveryinfrequentlyattendedchurchorprayed,andhisreadingofscripturewaslimitedtoafewchoiceversesintheOldTestamentthatinspiredhissenseofstark,righteousjustice.HedidnotruleouttheexistenceofGod,butfeltthatifaSupremePowerexisted,Hedidnotplayahands-onroleinguidinghumanaffairs.BefittingthisDeisticperspective,ChurchilldidnotpetitiontheAlmightyforhelpindefeatingtheNazis,believingthatthecourseofeventswouldbeaffectedbythethoroughnessofhisownplanningandstrategy,ratherthandivineintervention.God,Churchillallowed,mayhaveaGreatDesignintowhichallourhumanactionsfit,butitwasaplanthatwasonlymanifestedifwedoourduty.Nolongerbeingabletobasehisideasofrightandwrongonareligiousfaithdidnotdiminish

Churchillssenseofmoralityonebit.Heheldthatmorality,aswellasallthegreatthings,wereeternalinnature;ashisbiographer,WilliamManchesterputsit,Churchillsawlifeandhistoryinprimarycolors,likeVittoreCarpacciospaintingsofSt.Georgeandbelievedinabsolutevirtueandabsolutemalevolence,inblindinglightandimpenetrabledarkness,inrighteousnessandwickednessorratherintheforcesofgoodagainsttheforcesofevil,forthetwowouldalwaysbeinconflictandbethereforeforeverembattled.Thus,ratherthangivinguponhavingacodeofbehavioraltogetherafteritsChristianunderpinningshaddissolved,Churchillsetaboutcreatinganewcodeofprinciplestoguidehislife.Amongstthetextshestudiedasatwenty-somethingwerethoseofPlatoandAristotle.Fromthelatterphilosopherheadoptedtheideaofthemeanthatvirtueisthepaththatliesbetweentwoextremecoursesofaction.Itisanidealthatrequirestheexerciseofpracticalwisdomdoingtherightthing,attherighttime,fortherightreason.AsManchesternotes,ChurchillbelievedinVirtueandRight,notasmattersofdogma,butasobjectiverealities,andthatVirtuewasmanifestedinaction.ToenvisionthestruggleofattainingtheAristotelianmean,ChurchilllookedtoPlatosAllegoryoftheChariot.Intheallegory,acharioteer,symbolizingReason,istaskedwithguidingtwowingedhorsesoneawhite,spiritedhorsethatseeksnobleends,andtheotheradark,rebellioushorsethatseekstosatiatehumanappetites.Amanmustlearntoharnessthesedualenergiesthoseofheartandmind,pleasureandvirtuesothathischariotmightsoarintotheheavens.Thiswasthemission,andadventure,thatguidedChurchillswholelife.

TheTenetsofChurchillsMoralCode

WhilethroughouthislifeChurchillkepthimselfopentonewideasthatchallengedhisown,

thebedrockofprinciplesheformedinhisyouthwouldforeverremainunshakable.Belowisabriefoverviewofthevirtuesthatformedthebackboneofhismoralcode:

LoyaltyChurchillwasloyaltohisfriendsandcolleagues,almosttoafault.Ifsomeonetriedtocriticizeaclosecompanion,evenonewhohadpubliclydisgracedhimself,ChurchillwouldstopthegossiperbeforetheyhadevenbegunwithIdontwanttohearit.Thismanismyfriend.Thisloyaltyextendedeventothosewhowereonceenemies,buthadbecomecolleagues.Forthreeyearspriortothewar,ChurchillblisteringlycriticizedNevilleChamberlaininspeechandinprintforhisdisastrousappeasementpolicytowardsHitler.TheprimeministerhadwatchedastheFuhrergobbledupterritoriesandcountries,surethatifHitlerwasgivenwhathewanted,hisdemandswouldcease,andwarcouldbeavoided.Inthis,Chamberlainarguablydidmore,saveHitlerhimself,toprecipitatetheglobalcrisis.ChurchillfoundChamberlainsapproachdeeplywrong-headedandoutrightshameful,andyetoncethePMdecidedtobringChurchillintohiscabinet,Winstonnotonlystoppedcriticizinghiminpublic,butinprivateaswell.AfriendwhovisitedChurchillafterhewasbroughtintothegovernmentwassurprisedwhenhereprimandedoneofhischildrenatdinnerformakingthekindofjokeaboutChamberlainthatwouldhavebeencommoncurrencyintimespast.Withmuchsolemnity,Churchillsaid:

Ifyouaregoingtomakeoffensiveremarksaboutmychiefyouwillhavetoleavethetable.WeareunitedinagreatandcommoncauseandIamnotpreparedtotoleratesuchlanguageaboutthePrimeMinister.

Onceheandanothermanbecamecomradeswithacommonaim,eveniftheydisagreedonhowtoachieveit,Churchillwouldstandbyhimthroughthickandthin.

MagnanimityGivenChurchillsambitious,bombastic,self-assuredpersonality,onemightimaginehedbethetypetogloatandpreenwhenprovenright.YetifWinstonhadthisproclivity,hemanagedtokeepanincrediblytightlidonit.ThoughhehadspentadecadetryingtowarnhiscountrymenofthedangerHitlerposed,andthoughhehadspentyearsrailingagainsttheappeasementpolicythatwaswidelypopularthroughoutBritain,whenthetideofpublicopinionfinallyturnedinhisfavor,henevergaveintothetemptationtoshoutItoldyouso!fromtherooftops.Andwhileitwouldhavepracticallybeenhisrighttocallhisformercriticsmenwhohadheapedhimwithscornandcalledhimatraitoronthecarpetforawell-deservedverbalcomeuppance,herefusedtodoso.Instead,hetookexactlytheoppositetack.WhenParliamentbegantoquestionChamberlainsleadership,andtheideaofreplacinghimwithChurchillbegantobeseriouslyconsidered,Winstoncouldhavedirectlyangledforthejob,andjettisonedhisnascentloyaltytohisbossbyreturningtohispublicdenunciationsofhim.Hedidnot.

And,oncehehadbeenselectedasthenextheadofHerMajestysGovernment,hecouldhavelethisrelationshipwithChamberlaindevolveintotheicyrivalrytypicalofpoliticalopponents.Hedidnot.Instead,heinvitedhisformernemesisandsomeofhisothererstwhilecriticsaswelltoserveinhisWarCabinet.WhenChamberlainbecamestrickenwithbowelcancer,andwasforcedtoresigntheposition,ChurchillorderedthattheformerPMbetelephonedwithallpositivenewsaboutthewar.Winstoncouldberuthlesswhenfightinghisenemiesinpoliticsandinwarbuthedidntlethisdesiretotriumphdevolveintopettiness,orabitter,blindingantipathy.Hecouldfeelamanwasdeadwrongdisastrouslywrong,evenandyetherefusedtodemonizehim.HetoldacolleaguethathehatednobodyexceptforHitler,andthatwasprofessional.Sotoo,onceabattlewaswon,Churchillcouldeasilyswitchfromalaserfocusondestroyinghisfoe,tore-formingthefriendshipsandcoalitionsnecessarytobegintherebuildingprocess.Hefeltthatheatedantagonismandrevengeweresimplyunproductive.Anger,heposited,isawasteofenergy.Steamwhichisusedtoblowoffasafetyvalvewouldbebetterusedtodriveanengine.

HonorChurchillbelievedinhonorbothinthesenseofintegritykeepingonesword,livinguptoonesprinciplesandintheclassicalsenseaswell:prizingareputationforvirtueandstrength,anddemonstratingawillingnesstodefendthatreputationwhenwronged.Inhisprivatelife,herefusedtobeprivytowhathedeemeddishonorablespeech.Ifadinnerguestmadeananti-Semitic,disloyal,orotherwisescurrilousremark,hewouldgetupandtheleavethetable.AtameetingoftheheadsoftheAlliedpowersneartheendofthewar,Stalinproposedthatthearmyexecuteatleast50,000GermanofficersaftertheirsurrenderinordertoensuretheDeutschlandssubmissionfordecadestocome.Iwouldrather,Churchillreplied,betakenouttothegardenhereandnowandbeshotmyselfratherthansullymyownandmycountryshonorbysuchinfamy.AfterFDRsuggestedacompromisetoshoot49,000officersinsteadandhissonElliottdrunkenlytotteredinandgavetheideahissupport,Churchillstoodupandlefttheroom.Stalinfollowedafterhimtoofferhisassurancethatitwasallajoke,butChurchill,knowingthebutcheryUncleJoewascapableof,wasnotsosure.Inhispubliclife,itwashissenseofhonorthatmostgalledChurchillaboutChamberlainspolicyofappeasement.Herewasadictatorthathadwillinglybrokenhispromises,whowasclearlylyingthroughhisteeth,andwhohadviolatedthesovereigntyofEuropespeoplesandyetEnglandwaslettinghimgetawaywithit.Hefeltdeepinhisbonesthatsuchdishonorableactionsrequiredaresponse,astrongresponse,andthatdoingnothingwascowardly.AsGermanyspowerincreased,andtheBritishgovernmentcontinuedtoignoretheiradvances,Churchilllamented:WeseemtobeverynearthebleakchoicebetweenWarandShame.MyfeelingisthatweshallchooseShame,andthenhaveWarthrowninalittlelateronevenmoreadversetermsthanatpresent.

Resolution

Nothingnothismoods,notBritainsdefeats,nottheslowstrangulationoftheU-boatblockade,nothisreluctantgeneralsimpededChurchillscapacitytoinspirehiscountrymenandtofightfortheirsalvation.Nothingdiminishedhisloveforhisfamily.Nothingundercuthisloveoflife.WilliamManchester,TheLastLion

IftheresonecharactertraitWinstonChurchillisbestknownfor,itsassuredlyhisresolution.Inweatheringtheupsanddownsofhispoliticalcareer,hehadlearnedtonevercountoneselfoutofthefight,andtojustkeepclimbingtowardsthesummitofyourgoalnomatterwhatsetbackstemporarilygetyouofftrack.Helikenedthetasktothatofthebeaver,whobuildshisdam,andthuswhenhisfishingisabouttobegin,comesthefloodandsweepshisworkandluckandfishawaytogether.Sohehastobeginagain.BeginagainChurchilldid,many,manytimes.ThuswhenwardescendedonEurope,Churchillsfire-testedsteadfastnesswouldbeEnglandsgreatestasset.Hewasthemanwhosteeledhiscountrymensnervewithspeechesthatcalledforthemtofightonthebeachesandtooffertheirblood,toil,tears,andsweattothecause.Throughoutthewar,hisfaithintheiron-willofhisfellowEnglishmenneverwavered:Ifeelsurewehavenoneedtofearthetempest.Letitroar,andletitrage.Weshallcomethrough.

Churchillsspiritofresolutionnotonlyhelpedwinthewar,butperhapsjustasimportantly,madehisfellowEnglishmenbelievetheywouldwinthewar.Henotonlywasabletoformaninnerconvictiontoneversurrender,butwasabletoprojectthatassurancetoothers.Theenergyofhisironwillcreatedanauraofcomfortandconfidencetothosewhoworkedalongsidehiminthegovernment,andtothethousandsoffamilieswholistenedtohisspeechesovertheradio.RobertMenzies,theAustralianprimeminister,describedWinstonashavingnodefeatinhisheart,andhispersonalphysician,CharlesWilson,said,Ilovehisguts.Ithinkhesinvincible.WhowouldntsleepbetteratnighthavingawartimeleaderwhocouldbedescribedasMargeryAllingham,themysterynovelist,didtheOldMan:

Mr.Churchillistheunchangingbulldog,theepitomeofBritishaggressivenessandthelivingincarnationofthetrueBritoninfighting,notstandinganydamnednonsense,stokingtheboilerswiththegrandpianoandenjoying-itmood.Alsoheneverletsgo.Heissodesignedthathecannotbreatheifhedoes.Attheendofthefighthewillcomecrawlingin,unrecognizable,coveredwithbloodanddelighted,withtheenemysheartbetweenhisteeth.

OfcourseChurchillwasntreallyinvincible;hehadapropensitytogrowl,sulk,andkickwastebasketsoverwhenbadnewsfromthefrontcamein.Yetthesegloomymoodsneversunkdeepnordidtheylast.AshisdaughterMaryputit,hissetbacksneverun-mannedhim.Hesawitashisdutytobethefaceofindomitability,evenifhewasfeelinglessthanbullishhimself.Itissurprisinghowhemaintainsalightheartedexteriorinspiteofthevastburdensheisbearing,AlanBrooke,Churchillsforemostmilitaryadvisor,observed.Hisstrengthwasinhisabilitytotakethingsoneatatime,toabsorbasetbackandbeginthefightagainthenextday,tobuildsuccessuponsuccess,andtojustkeeppushingthroughitallnomatterhowthestormraged.K.B.O.washismotto:KeepBuggeringOn.

Courage

Churchillsconvictionthatcourageconstitutedthelynchpinvirtuewasborninhisyouth,whenanoft-bulliedboymadeattainingithisprimarygoal:BeinginmanywaysacowardparticularlyatschoolthereisnoambitionIcherishsokeenlyastogainareputationofpersonalcourage.WithoutthefortitudeWinstondesperatelysought,andgained,heneverwouldhavebeenabletoovercomehisinauspiciousstartandmakehimselfintoaman,andastatesman.Asahelpinthetaskofgirdinguphisloins,youngChurchillmemorizedall70stanzasofHoratius,apoembyThomasMacaulaythatmemorializedthesemi-mythicaltaleofaRomanwarriorwhostoodwithtwocompanions,guardingabridgebetweenhispeopleandanentireenemyarmy.Oneofthestanzasgoes:

ThenoutspakebraveHoratius,TheCaptainoftheGate:ToeverymanuponthisearthDeathcomethsoonorlate.AndhowcanmandiebetterThanfacingfearfulodds,Fortheashesofhisfathers,Andthetemplesofhisgods

Churchillbelievedinthissentimentwholeheartedly,andhespenthislifeprovingit.Hecameunderfireinbattlesome50timesoverhislifetime,andheoftenintentionallysoughtoutthesedangeroussituations.AcompanionwhoservedwithChurchillinthetrenchesofWWIdescribedhimasamanwhohadnophysicalfearofdying.Thereweremuchworsethings,

Winstonfelt,thanbeingkilledinactionlargely,livingaboringandtimidlife.Whilehisphysicalcouragewasunquestionable,hismoralandintellectualcouragewereremarkableaswell.

InTheLonelyCrowd,sociologistDavidRiesmandividespeopleintotheother-directedandtheinner-directed.Thelatterhecomparestoagyroscopetheyspinontheirownaxis,indifferenttotheopinionofothers.Incontrast,theother-directedarelikenedtoaradarsystemwithantennaethatareverysensitivetotheopinionsofothers.Inatimethickwithantenna-men,Churchillwasagyroscopeofawholeotherorder.Hescornedpublicopinionpolls,anddidntstickhisfingerinthewindinordertomatchhisconvictionstowhicheverwaythewindwasblowing.Asheputit:

Itisnotagoodthingalwaystobefeelingyourpulseandtakingyourtemperature.Althoughonehastodoitsometimes,youdonotwanttomakeahabitofit.IhavehearditsaidthataGovernmentshouldkeepitseartotheground,buttheyshouldalsorememberthatthisisnotaverydignifiedattitude.

Thoughhewascertainlyambitious,anddefinitelylovedapplause,hewaswillingtodowithoutpowerandpraisewhenattainingitwouldmeancompromisinghisconvictions.Duringhiswildernessyearsinthe1930s,hestoodasalonevoicewarningofHitlersriseandBritainslackofpreparationforthecomingofawarthatfewbesideshimselfknewwasimminent.Hewasmockedandbooedforhisjeremiad-esquespeeches,blackballedfromsocietyclubs,andfiredfromajobasanewspapercolumnist,resultinginasignificantlossofincome.Thoughthecriticismandshunninghurthimdeeply,herefusedtotrimhissails;asManchesterputsit,Thepressurefromwithouttoremainsilentwasover-poweredbythepressurefromwithin.Hisconscience,hisveryessence,compelledhimtoshoulderhisway

intothepublicforumagainandagain.

TakeawaysfromLesson#1

ThereareofcoursesomewhowillbeabsolutelyscandalizedbytheideaoflinkingChurchillwithmoralityatall,muchlessusinghislifeasinspirationtodeveloponesownsetofprinciples.SuchcriticswillpointtothefactthatanambitiousChurchillswitchedpoliticalpartiestwice(thoughhehadhisreasons),thathehadracistideas(asdid90%ofpeopleatthetime),andthatheplayedaroleindeepeningtheseverityoftheBengalFamineof1943(thoughthereweremanymore,andmoresignificantfactorsattherootofit)inordertoimpugnhischaracterandtheviabilityofhisbeingarolemodel.Thereisnotspaceinthisarticle,norisitwithinthepurviewofthisseries,todelveintotheseissues;Icanonlysaythatonceyoureadareasonablyobjective3,000-pagebiographyonChurchill(IcannotrecommendManchestersmorestrongly),ratherthanbiased,agenda-drivenarticlesontheinternet,youwillcomeawaywithafarmorenuancedandbalancedpictureofthesecriticisms,andhislifeasawhole.Themansurelyhadhisflaws,buthisworthytraitscouldbeawe-inspiring.Sotoo,theideabehindthisseriesisnottohavereadersattempttoimplementChurchillspreceptsandmethodswholecloth,buttousehislifeasajumpingoffpointforhowtoimprovetheirown.Inregardstothispiece,thisistosaythatIamnotendorsingAristotelianagnosticismasthebestpathforeveryman.Rather,thehopeisthatinexploringChurchillsbeliefsandmoralcode,readerswillbeinspiredtocreatetheirowncode.Suchacodeservesasthefoundationforafulfillingadulthood,andyetitspossessionisalltoooftenararitythesedays.

AccordingtoPewResearch,1/3ofMillennialsarentaffiliatedwithanyreligionthehighestpercentageofanygenerationofthelast25years.AsChurchilldemonstrated,amanslackofreligiousfaithdoesnotautomaticallycorrelatewiththelackofafirm,well-definedmoralcode,butthetwodooftengohand-in-hand.ThesequenceofeventsusuallygoesmuchlikeitdidforChurchill,withonecrucialdivergence:Ayoungpersonquestionstheirfaith,thengoesthroughananti-religiousphaseoftenaccompaniedbyaperiodwheretheybreakalltheoldrulestheyusedtolivebyandthenmellowoutsome.Tisanaturalphaseofyouth.Butunfortunately,thenextstepthatChurchilltookfailstobeundertaken:thecreationofanewmoralcode.Onesoldbeliefsarewipedaway,butnothingisrebuiltintheirplace.Instead,themellowingperiodleadstosomethingofanindifferentstancetowardstheideaofTruthwithacapitalT.Itsaperspectiveembodiedbyashrug,andundergirdedbysentimentsliketoeachhisownandjustdowhatevermakesyouhappy.Thereareseveralreasonsforacrisisoffaithtoendinthiscommonresult.Apersonmayfeelthatwithoutabasisinreligion,theresimplycantbegroundingforideasofabsolutegoodandevil,rightandwrong.Also,aswegetolder,lifegetsalotbusier(andourbrainsgetmellower),sowesimplylosethedriveandpassiontoexplorethesekindsofheadyquestionsandseektruth.Finally,theresanelementofconvenienceandself-interestatplay;ifweremainindefinitelyinaperiodoflimbo,inwhichwerenotsureexactlywhatwebelieve,wecanjustifyanychoiceasokay.WhatChurchillshowsusisthatyoucanstillhaveafirmbedrockofprinciples,evenifyourenotreligious,andthatitsokaytoallowbothdoubtandbelieftoexistinyourlife.Youdonthavetohaveitallfiguredoutinordertohaveapowerfulmoralcompass!Ifyourereligious,buthavesomedoubtsaboutyourfaith,realizethatsnormal.Youcangrapplewiththosedoubts,orsimplysitthemontheshelfforatime,andstillgoonbelievinginthethingsyoudofeelsureabout;youdontneedtothrowoutthebabywiththebathwater.Betruetowhatyoudoknow.Ifyouveleftbehindyourfaithaltogether,youstillcan,andshould,createamoralcodeforyourself.Studyphilosophyanddecidewhatyoubelieveaboutthenatureofman,thepurposeoflife,andwhatconstitutesethicalbehavior.Thetrickistoavoidthetemptationtochooseaphilosophythatentirelyalignswithyourpredispositions.Asoundmoralcodealwaysinvolvesadegreeofstruggleandsacrifice;BeinginmanywaysacowardparticularlyatschoolthereisnoambitionIcherishsokeenlyastogainareputationofpersonalcourage.Andevenifyourereligious,andhaveneverhadadoubtaboutyourfaith,youstillshouldgothroughtheprocessofexaminingyourbeliefs,sothatyouknowwhyyouholdthem,thatyouvetrulychosenthemforyourself,andgainadeeperunderstandingofthecodebywhichyoulive.Inotherwords,justbecauseyourenotsureabouteverythingintheworld,doesntmeanyoucantbesureofanything.Andjustbecauseyouresureofsomethings,doesntmeanyoushouldeverstopseekingaftertruth,aslongasyoukeepactingonthetruthyouvealreadyobtained.AsManchesterdescribesChurchill:Hisabidingagnosticismprecludedcertaintyinthematterofdivineinfluence,butnotinthematterofdoinghisduty.

Youcanhaveanopenmindandabedrockofprinciples.Infact,asanadult,youabsolutelyshould.

WhyaMoralCodeServesastheFoundationforaFulfillingAdulthood

Youryouthisatimeforexploration,andwhileyoushouldneverstopexploringentirely,asyoumature,youshouldreachapointwhereyouhaveasetofbeliefsthatbecomesfirmerandfirmerastheyearsgoby.Thisfoundationoffersseveralsignificantbenefitstoyourlife.First,itaddsanotherlayertoanexistencethatcanotherwiseoftenfeelquiteflat.Yourenotjustadronethateats,sleeps,goestowork,andhassex.Theresanotherdimensionoflifetoponderanddrawfrom.BeliefinTruthgivesyouaninterest,andmakesyouinteresting;Ifindotherpeoplewhohavestrongbeliefsevenwhentheyarediametricallyopposedtomyownfarmorefascinatingthanthosewhohaveneverbotheredtocraftaphilosophyoflife.Italsooffersdirection.Whenyouknowwhatyourpurposeisinlife,youwontaimlesslydrift.Youllbemoredecisiveabouthowtoactandrespondinvarioussituations.Youvegotamissiontofulfill.

Perhapsmostimportantly,astrongmoralcodewillallowyoutoleadandinspireothers.Asanadultyoulllikelyhavefellowtravelersalongfortheridewithyou.Attimes,especiallytoughtimes,theywilllooktoyouforcomfort,confidence,anddirection.Willyoubeabletoofferit?Orwilltheyturntoyouandask,Whatstherightthingtodo?andbemetwithashrug?Livingwithastrongmoralcodecansometimesbelonely.Criticizetheculture,andyoulloftenbemockedforvoicingsuchanout-of-touchandignorantjeremiad.Othersmaynotalwaysseewhatyousee.AsManchesterdescribesWinstoninthepre-waryears:

IntheLondonmurkChurchill,withhismoralcompass,knewexactlywherehewas,butfewEnglishmenevenglimpsedhimatthetimehesaidprivatelythatveryfewBritonsseemedreadytodieforanythinganymore;theentirecountryseemedcrippledbyanationaldfaillance.HehadspokentotheminthetongueofVictoriasEngland,itselfadeadlanguage,andtherewerenointerpreters.

Thelanguageofvirtuehasbeenlosttousinourday,anditmayoftenfallondeafears.Butamanwithamoralcodeisstillasought-aftertreasure.Peoplearedrawntohim,evenwhentheydontknowwhyandeveniftheyrenotsuretheyagreewithhim.Itsbecausevirtuecreatesanaura,alightthatemanatesfromthosewhoseekit.Churchillscontemporariesdescribedhimashavinganinnerradiance.Itwasalightthatsethisownlifeaglowandlentitabrilliantresplendency,eveninhisdarkesthours.Anditwasalightthatbrightenedthepathforothers.OnthedayafterPearlHarbor,almost73yearsagototheday,Churchilladdressedthe

HouseofCommonsbysaying:Inthepastwehavehadalightwhichflickered,inthepresentwehavealightwhichflames,andinthefuturetherewillbealightwhichshinesoverallthelandandsea.

TowhichManchesteradds:NomatterthatHitlerhadextinguishedthelampsacrossallofEurope,Churchillgeneratedhisownillumination.Tobeanadultisto,asauthorCormacMcCarthyputsit,carrythefireforothers.Alongdarkenedpathwaysweholdupalanterntothosewelovesotheydonotstumbleastheyclimblifesoftenrockytrail.Ourmoralcodeourbedrockofprinciplescreatestheflameforthatlight.Letyoursshineforthsothatweallmightascend,asChurchillputit,intothebroad,sunlituplandsofaneverbetterfuture.

ReadtheEntireSeriesTheWinstonChurchillSchoolofAdulthoodIsNowinSessionAPrerequisiteClassonBecomingtheAuthorofYourOwnLifeLesson#2:EstablishaDailyRoutineLesson#3:LiveRomanticallyLesson#4:CultivateaNostalgicLoveforHistoryLesson#5:DontGiveUpYourSenseofAdventureLesson#6:DontBeAfraidtoStartaFamilyLesson#7:WorkLikeaSlave;CommandLikeaKing;CreateLikeaGodTipsonHustling,Leadership,andHobbiesfromWinstonChurchillConclusion:Thought+Action=AnAwesomeAdulthood________________________________________Sources:TheLastLionTrilogybyWilliamManchesterMyEarlyLifebyWinstonChurchillBrettandKateMcKay26Comments

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