The Cresendo

- Camera: NIKON Z fc
- Taken: 6 May, 2022
- Aperture: ƒ/1.4
- Focal length: 23mm
- ISO: 640
- Shutter speed: 1/640s
I’ve been reading the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Among the books I’ve read it’s definitely one of my favorites. Not only do you get a sense of the history of the United States during the 1700’s but out of this time of struggle and formation you get a real role model. Besides his contributions to physics and science through his discoveries and theories regarding electricity he helped to form many public services such as a fire department, a university and libraries. Benjamin didn’t regularly attend Church services though he did believe in a deity and saw the need to formulate a system to develop his character. He also gave money to the Presbyterian Church even though he didn’t much care for the preaching. On one occasion he heard a sermon on Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (KJV). He was particularly disappointed that the preacher didn’t focus on using this verse to strengthen one’s character.
He came up with the following thirteen virtues:
He then set about at working on each of these virtues focusing on one each week for thirteen weeks and then staring the process over again. Each day he took time to examine his day and record if he had broken the virtue of the week in anyway.
I found his system of character building to be quite fascinating. Though I would encourage people to get connected to a good Bible preaching Church and more specifically a relationship with God through his Son Jesus who died for us because of our lack of character and tendency to sin, these virtues are all certainly consistent with God’s desire to develop us into virtuous men and women.
“Tho’ I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavour, a better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it.“ – Benjamin Franklin
I found the following sites that talk about his thirteen virtues: