Author: Al
Posted: 2008-03-03 15:32:43
|
Lion: Seven Letters
Nik sent her recent personality test to me, and I took it. I actually kind of like those things. That's not because I need someone else to tell me what I am, but rather because I like to see what word they use to describe me. I am a rather flat character in this storybook of life. Everyone who meets me can usually correctly characterize me after only a few minutes. I like that though. There's no uncertainty involved.
That is, except in the label you choose. This test chose “Lion.” That is a funny one. Let's examine some of the traits they assign to a lion:
Likes authority
Confident
Firm
Bold
Strong willed
Self reliant
Competitive
Controlling
There were a few others, but these are the important ones for this lesson. Take a good look at those. Is that how you would describe a lion? Rather, is lion the word you would pick to avoid offending a jackass?
Everyone knows what I am, and to use a euphemism like “lion” is a bit insulting. My social contract with the world is easy to understand with the proper label in place, and so long as I don't abuse my position, I can even have a few friends who will overlook my rough edges. Where things get really interesting is when we deal with more well rounded people.
Nik is one such well rounded person. We easily agreed on my label in this test, but cannot quite come to terms with her label. While it is certain that she has most of the “Golden Retriever” traits, I think that she has all but one of the “Beaver” traits on this particular quiz. Her self deprecating attitude prevents her from assigning the positive traits to herself. That's OK, but a little sad.
She exposes the weakness of these quizzes readily. First, she is only barely one of those two choices over the other. In truth, she should be a hybrid of them. Calling her a golden beaver sounds vaguely dirty, and a beaver retriever just sounds outright filthy. Second, whatever you call it, you have to call it correctly. Self deprecation is far more of a vice than a virtue. If you are going to accept yourself for what you are, then that means, perhaps most importantly, accepting the good as well. Even if you are humble and do not dwell on your finer points, you should at least know what they are. You have them for a reason.
So, Nik, own your analytical, orderly, and practical nature. It has saved my bacon more than a few times in our short life together.
And for those of you still shocked by my ownership of my own label, know this:
“Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.”
- From Chesterton's “The Donkey”
The biblical example that the quiz gave for a lion was Paul. I think he would have a similar take on this label. But he knew his place, and his role too. Neither he, nor the mystic John would be the foundation of the church. They would have and cherish their supporting roles. When I listen to my contemporaries talk about Paul I hear a lot of “Yeah, sure he was brilliant, but he was so arrogant.” Paul gets a lot of derision, and takes a lot of beatings (just like the donkey in G.K.'s poem), but he too had his hour. He brought Christ to a group of people who were being ignored.
God bless me that I may do the same. |
|
