In geopolitical discourse, we often hear about nations’ “Red Lines”. These are statements of what their ruling class considers to justify war. In short, they are the lines that a nation will not allow other to cross.

Let’s flip the concept. What about the lines you will defend? The lines you will not allow yourself to cross? I call these our “White Lines”. Why do I call them that? Because they’re like the white lines on a blueprint.

Now, why a blueprint? Because a classic-style blueprint defines something with white lines on a blue background, and this is all about definitions. Plus, dark blue is the universal color of diplomacy! (I declare it here and now.)

You see, these are the vital lines that define you. When you defend them, you show God and the world who you really are. To forsake or redraw them is nothing less than to forsake or redraw a part of yourself.

Consider some hypothetical White Lines someone might hold:

• I will never betray family.
• I will never give up my religion.
• I will always stick up for the little guy.
• I will never admit that Star Wars was in better hands with George Lucas, even if I search my feelings and know it to be true.
• I don’t drink any alcohol.
• I love my wife and always will.
• I will not allow double standards to cloud my political opinions.
• I was born in this country, and I will die in this country.

Your White Lines are like your personal code, and that’s a huge part of what makes you you. Let’s ponder this in superhero terms. Look at Superman. He has a code against killing. He refuses to kill even his most dangerous foes. This is a vitally important element of his character. What would he be without that? Probably a mass-murdering, god-like bully who imposes his sense of justice and rules the earth with an iron fist. To drive home the point, there are those alternate universes where he’s exactly that. Superman is saved by his lines!

So I would encourage everyone to find their own White Lines. Find the things that, even at your worst, you’ll never do. Find the things that embody your ideal image of yourself. Defend them, but don’t let failures be the end of your lines. It’s far better to fail and return to defending them than to simply give up altogether.

I think it’d be nice to close with a song. There’s a great country song from way back in the 90s, “You’ve Got to Stand for Something“. It was co-written by Arron Tippin and Buddy Brock. It’s about the importance of taking a stand for what’s write. It has this great part in the refrain:

You’ve got to stand for something,
or you’ll fall for anything.
You’ve got to be your own man,
not a puppet on a string.

Simply beautiful, cheesy video and all.