A brother's heart

“You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.”  

Von Goethe

I have a brother two and half years younger than I am.  He is the epitome of kindness.  But, his main characteristic is generosity.  Oh, he applied himself well in school and took all the physics and other science and math courses he needed to get where he is today.  He graduated 16 ranks higher than I did in his graduating class from high school.  He blew the top off his college courses.  And he made all the right career moves at all the right times.  He would not know how to write a blog on the enigma of timing.  It has nearly always happened just right for him.  

But, through all his success, he never once gave in to greed.  He is still very generous.  Don't get me wrong, he knows how to invest for his future and do it rather well.  But, to others not of his rank, he shows nothing but grace, as if they were kings on the earth.  He still feels for the downtrodden.  He still discerns worthy causes from bad and finds ways to participate in or contribute to those worthy ones.  He still believes that at the core people are good.  He even treats his own brother and sister with kindness.  He is equally kind and generous to his own wife and children.

What a guy.  He has taught me to be more even-keeled when I would take a more cynical or clinical view of life.  He models a certain groundedness.  I thank him for his steadiness in life.  It's a good reminder to me who writes much  too often of the roller coaster effect of life.