Inspiring...and so true

I read a quote this morning that inspired me and it actually describes the mission that I am on in my own life. Abraham Lincoln said the following: "I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, stand by him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong." This philosophy has become somewhat of a mission in my own life. I have bound myself to learning as much as possible from as many points of view as possible about history, culture, religion, and so on and so forth. I aim, as much as possible, to keep an open mind while learning and to form opinions based on what I believe to be right and true. Sometimes I agree with people and sometimes I disagree, but I make it a point to try (whenever possible) to avoid getting into arguments with people that will resort to character assassination instead of sticking to the issues. I want to learn but I want to learn in an environment that promotes a healthy, sound mind.
This quote describes my mission because it is a philosophy, in short, of how our nation once was. There was a time when not everyone got a trophy. The winners got a trophy, the losers (and yes they were allowed to be called this before politically correct lingo) got a pat on the back and a "nice try." The word "loser" has become taboo but the fact is that the definition of the word is not an attacking definition. "Loser" simply means " a contestant who loses the contest." Like so many other words, it is not the word itself that is problem, it is the intent with which it is spoken. There was a time at which we didn't have to be politically correct and it was okay to use these types of words. There was a time when our nation was great.
Now don't read into this and think that I'm a hate-monger because I shun politically correct terms. I don't shun them all. I am all for protecting the more "politically correct" terms when it comes to race, religion, and so on. I believe that when words are spoken in love, it is the intent that matters. When words are spoken out of hatred, anger, and frustration, it is also the intent that matters.
What this quote comes down to, for me, is doing the very best that you can do to make yourself, your community, and your nation better. It doesn't matter what your job is, do it to the best of your ability. It doesn't matter if you're married or unmarried, live whatever life you have with passion for the things that matter. It doesn't matter if you are childless, an adoptive parent, a biological parent, or a foster parent. It doesn't matter if you have one children or one hundred, live your life with a passion for what matters. When we started giving everyone the trophy, people quit trying to do their best just to do their best because they were getting an award anyway. I am striving, in my own life, to get back to being the best that I can be for me and to glorify God. I am choosing to make my own path even if it means that some of my friends and family walk away. I am choosing to make my own path toward a goal of closer relationship with God and finding my true purpose in life and then living that purpose with passion.