The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy

Thanks for reading. This is the 40th edition.

It's easy when things are going good. We usually don't realize how good it's going until we start to face a challenge or a controversy.

"Man, I had it so good just a few months ago. I was humming along, everything was perfect."

Yep, and then something happens, messes up our routines, disrupts the flow we get into.

It's always going to happen and you can control only what you can control. Sometimes you only control the reaction you have in these moments.

If the above quote is the measure of a man, then the man who said this rates extremely high. One might say, the highest. He stood so very tall in the moments of challenge and controversy.

I love this quote, but it wasn't just said by someone who thought about this. It was said by someone who lived this every single day. I have no idea what it would have been like to be in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s shoes but I know that he stood up for what he believed in and never wavered. Never. Ever. His life was nothing but challenge and controversy.

He never stopped preaching. Being wrongly jailed multiple times couldn't stop him. Acts of violence against him didn't stop him. He worked through these challenging times up until his last breath.

His commitment to justice, equality and God is ever inspiring.

Challenge and Controversy mean different things to everyone. Some have way more challenges and controversies in their life than others.

Putting comparison aside, whatever you consider challenge and controversy, you can have this quote drive your week, month and your life. People will challenge you. Controversy will find you. It is how you react, speak up and fight for what you believe in and who you are that matters.

You can't step down or aside when things get tough. I have, I've regretted it. I'm trying not to do that anymore. When things get tough, you've got to keep standing tall, backed by your beliefs.

One could argue that, wherever you stand when you're in the face of a challenging or controversial time, is the "true content of your character."

Thanks for reading.