Is Nobility Key to a Life Worth Living?

Have we lost touch with the very essence of nobility - what it means to live with character and upright stature? Have you considered the decisions, character, and perseverance of individuals that changed the course of history? What caused them to approach their challenges with such impervious integrity that it would echo through the generations? 

The truth is, in generations past there were a lot more opportunities to practice daily acts of self-sacrifice; simply by the lack of convenience that exists in the 21st century. My good friend, Carrie Lloyd, and author of The Noble Renaissance pressed this point: consider for a moment just a decade ago the process it was to just rent a movie from Blockbuster. It was a far cry from the instant, clickable convenience we enjoy today with streaming services. In order to rent a movie from Blockbuster, you’d need to decide with your friends on which movie to rent, then you’d make your way to Blockbuster just to find out the desired film is rented out for the night. So, then you’d pivot and choose something else available and make your way back home, put it in the VHS just to find out it has not been rewound. You’d sit and wait for the tape to reverse back to the start and then would need to make sure you returned it the next day to avoid a late fee. I know this example may seem completely disjointed from nobility, but the incredibly relevant daily practice of flexibility and selflessness that would be required by society at large is the connection point in this example. Now, let me be clear, of course, this is not to say that generations past did not also struggle with selfishness. But self-centered behavior was not as concentrated as it is in the world today. 

But, I have recently felt the deep urge to revisit the very character that etched the waves of change in society. What does it take to stand courageous in nobility amidst a crowd of moral cowards? The truth is that the morals of any society are not determined only by right and wrong; instead, they are often established by courageous people who brave the backlash of public opinion and forge new “norms ” — the ones who are noble. Amongst many examples in my recent conversation with Carrie Lloyd, she shared, “We think that grace in this generation is a case of loving everyone and condoning everything, but I think true love and true grace comes in the lifting up of other people even when they have hurt us.” Nobility is a challenging choice — it isn’t always the knee jerk reaction, but rather the calculated response. It doesn’t mean the temptation of immorality and revenge do not exist, but is not a key to our identity. 

My prayer is that as you watch this interview you are filled with expectation of how the rise of nobility will be seen across a generation. I encourage you to ask God to show you how He values nobility, why it’s key to a life worth living, and how you can take steps to living with nobility in your life.