Being Made of Solid Wood

There's nothing quite like holding a piece of furniture, a box, or a musical instrument of solid wood, made thoughtfully and artfully, by hand. These objects have a certain aura about them, something in them that even inspires me to be a better man. They are the real deal. It is one of my aspirations in life to be like these. When someone encounters me, I would want them to think, "This here is a true man." This requires more than authenticity. Our generation loves authenticity. We are all supposed to just "be ourselves." This is true, but our selves also need to be something. Our selves must have substance. Otherwise we are just authentically mediocre. 

I like an idea I encountered in Dietrich von Hildebrand. In spite of what psychologists might say, we do not all have personalities. Some people are personalities. A personality is someone who is great, someone who has virtue. The rest of us, who lack greatness, have no personality. A personality is a person who becomes what God intended him to be. Take von Hildebrand himself:

A personality in the true sense of the word is the man who rises above the average only because he fully realizes the classical human attitudes, because he knows more deeply and originally than the average man, loves more profoundly and authentically, wills more clearly and correctly than the others, and makes full use of his freedom; in a word, he is the complete, the profound, and the true man (Liturgy and Personality, Ch. II). 

This is what sets those beautiful works of human craftsmanship apart from the cheap veneered furniture to be found anywhere. They have "personality". In our times, the veneered person is commonplace as well. Our social media presences and our résumés are often veneers covering what is lacking in substance and true personality. It reminds me of one of the aphorisms of Baltasar Gracián, SJ, (translated by Christopher Maurer):

292. Let your character be superior to the requirements of the job, not vice versa.

No matter how great the post, you must show you are greater. Deep talent grows even deeper, and more obvious, with each pursuit. The person with a narrow mind and heart will be easily caught, and eventually the weight of his duties will crush his reputation. The great Augustus was proud of being a better man than a prince. Here is where one needs a lofty spirit, and well-grounded confidence in oneself.

This last sentence contrasts quite starkly with what I quoted from Lorenzo Scupoli the other day. Two priests, giving almost opposite advice.  It should be noted that Gracián's aphorism comes from his work titled The Art of Worldly Wisdom. Note that he also says "well-grounded confidence". Coincidentally, both Scupoli and Gracián were disciplined for disobedience. Yet, Scupoli seems to have accepted his chastisement with humility, and was vindicated in the end, whereas Gracián was obstinate in his ways. So, I would rather follow the advice of Scupoli, but I am still drawn to the ideal of Augustus, of being a better man than what one's titles or credentials show, having a substance of solid wood, not just its outward appearance.