Integrity

Integrity is doing the right thing in the absence of an audience.

I find it fascinating how often my actions do not represent what I truly believe in my heart. I may act one way when engaged with clients at work, yet find myself interacting differently when dealing with my children. And then there are the times when I am completely alone. Well, at least I think I am alone. How do I act then?

Consistently living out what I believe is the ultimate challenge I face in my life. Occasionally, I succeed. More often I present like a ping-pong ball, bouncing from convenience to convenience. You see, it's tough to be consistent. Not because it requires any great skill, but because it demands sacrifice. Integrity insists that I reflect God's character in my life regardless of circumstance. This inevitably produces discomfort, even ridicule and suffering at times.

God is teaching me the great benefit of integrity. I believe the return on the investment of integrity is peace. The greatest desire for most of us is peace, true satisfaction in life. Peace means I never have to look over my shoulder. Peace means I can face the consequences of honesty with confidence. Peace means no fear of what men can do to me. Peace means I can smile, and mean it.

But to harvest peace I must sow integrity. There really isn't any way around it. It takes commitment and consistency. It requires toiling in the soil of circumstance, faithfully planting seeds of righteousness. And when the crop yields its fruit there is no adequate description for the sweet flavor of peace and contentment - it reaches the depths of the soul.

So, I sit here alone. No audience to impress. No eyes to engage. But it is this soil of solitude that tests my resolve to choose integrity. I thank God for putting my hand to the plow.

Waiting for the harvest,

jonathan