“The noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.” – Isaiah 32:8
No one does a better job describing the characteristics of a noble person than New York Times columnist David Brooks in his book The Road to Character. Here are a few excerpts: “Sometimes you don’t even notice these people, because while they seem kind and cheerful, they are also reserved. They possess the self-effacing virtues of people who are inclined to be useful but don’t need to prove anything to the world: humility, restraint, reticence, temperance, respect, and soft self-discipline. They radiate a sort of moral joy. . . They perform acts of sacrificial service with the same modest everyday spirit they would display if they were getting the groceries. They are not thinking about what impressive work they are doing. They are not thinking about themselves at all. . . They just recognize what needs doing and they do it.”
When I stumbled upon this quote while perusing Brooks’ book recently, suddenly I had this vivid image of Press Canon, a man from my small hometown who, based on David Brooks’ description, was the epitome of a noble person – kind and cheerful, yet reserved, skilled, hardworking, but not trying to prove anything to anyone, just saw what needed to be done and did it, while “radiating a sort of moral joy,” as Brooks put it.
By profession Press was an auto mechanic who for many years owned a Conoco station located at the crossroads of the two major highways that intersected in my hometown. The station, as was common in that day, consisted of two gas pumps, regular and premium, two service bays, a Coke machine, and a small office. Services included car washes, oil changes, lubes, tire repairs, routine maintenance and minor repairs. But Press’ real specialty was customer service, helping people; for to him a person’s automobile was not an opportunity to make a buck, but to help ensure that his customers had reliable transportation to get the kids to school, an elderly parent to the doctor, make a trip to the grocery store, and drive to church on Sunday. . . What a role model!
David Brooks may never have met Press Cannon, but he nailed his character. And while we may be inclined to think such people are rare these days, I think there are more than we realize, we just don’t notice them. I’ll bet you’ve known a few Press Canons yourself – “the noble man [who] makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.”