My eldest son, Christopher, turned 15 a few days ago. What a critical, transitional time in life! The passage of his birthday left me with these thoughts on becoming a man:

• Manhood is not simply a matter of reaching a certain biological age, rather, it is attained when the naturally self-centered state of youth yields to the selfless state of a mind and heart rooted in virtue.
• Manhood is entered into by choice and refined in the crucible of difficulty and lack.
• Manhood is earned, not inherited. It is sustained by right action for the sake of right action and diminished whenever expediency is chosen over integrity.