my levies, my power, my choice

Character boundaries are a levy to turn a meandering stream into a tidal wave of action.


As we studied 10 different Ethical theories (divine command, conscience, ego, duty, respect, rights, utility, justice, virtue, and postmodern) I kept finding myself contemplating the idea that ethics is really a collection of boundaries, or levies, which give the water of opportunity guidance.

I thought about what rock levies do - they protect land from floods and direct water in a particular path. In a sense then, our principles or values are the boulders from which these levies are built. The collection of levies in our lives are that which guide, protect, and potentially hinder us from opportunities. The result, if considered in this light, is simply that as we take stones of principle from the quarry of our values and build boundary walls that both protect and direct our action, we can use the multiplying force of "well built" levies to actually enhance our ability to deliver. This is very similar to the idea of building on one's strengths instead of weaknesses. Using our own values we can then make decisions that keep us from pursuing courses that would cause destruction in and around us.

Boundaries can sometimes be uncomfortable as well. We build our wall from a supposed set of values or principles that we want to adhere to, yet because we are actually at odds with some of those values in terms of our living out of them, we feel the pressure and force of opportunity pushing us against or even over the walls we've attempted to build. In practical terms this surfaces as temptation, unbelief, or selfish living. While it may be that we truly desire to live our lives with moral compasses defined by solid values, we often lie to ourselves and tell ourselves that we believe something, when in actual fact (as evidenced by our behavior) we really believe something else. Of course, we want to believe - we trust in the values and principles, we see the benefit of the levy - yet somehow we find ourselves bumping up against the wall instead of flowing in the direction the levies are directing us.

When we are true to our values, we are propelled onward in a particular direction. We are driven in a vector and our velocity and momentum can build to amazing proportions. This power is in and of itself not necessarily right or good, because we can build walls out of self-centered values that are clearly not beneficial for society or ourselves in the long term. We are given a choice then, to decide from what to build our levies (world view, value system), where we are going to build them (social context), and if we are going to submit to the flow and power generated by them (turbulence from banging against the wall, or amazing acceleration). If we choose wisely, we can be propelled to great heights of good for our society, our family, and ourselves.

We can choose to turn our character boundaries into mighty buttresses that create tidal waves of good living. Is not good living that thing which we crave? To live abundantly? To live with purpose? To live with impact? To live with power? To live with utility? To live as a positive force within our own context?

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly. (John 10:9-10, NKJV)

Jesus said that He came that we might live an abundant life. That statement of course is in the context of our relationship with Him, of our relationship to the values and principles that He reveals as truth. If we build our lives based on His ethos (principles lived out), will we not see the rolling power of His Spiritual flood? We will not, as we submit to His boundaries, find ourselves moving forward with vigor and passion and abundant life?