Integrity....

Once again, I am puzzled by a word and the outcome in my life. What is the actual definition of integrity - how you ever looked it up?  Studied it?  Thought about how it applies to your life as well as how to live it?  As my 17 year old son begins to deal with unfair and unreasonable people in his life, I find myself in a quandry as to how to teach this value to him.  And, as I try to teach him what the true definition is, I find that while I have often thought of my self as a person with integrity - do I model it to him?  Does he see evidence of it in my life? 

So, the question becomes:  How does one live with integrity?  How can one adhere to a rigid code of values every moment of every day?  How in the world can one be of  a sound mind and completely do the right thing because it is the right thing to do?  Every time right and wrong are in question - how does one live it every time?  Wow!  That is a tall order in this crazy world!!!

Think of the highest honor one could bestow upon you.  Why would someone honor you?  Or, why would you honor another person, place or thing?  Is it because your actions are whole, right, and entirely honest?  Or is it because one displays a level of excellence that is unheard of in today's society?  Do you stand for courage?  Do you stand for honesty in all things?  How can one do that when compromise is so much a part of our world today?

What do you value?  What merits dignity to you?  What or who do you appreciate?  Treasure?  Hold dear?  What causes worthiness in a perosn's life? 

What or who is worthy to you?  Your life?  Your love?  This is a subject that is worth pondering.........lingering upon..........and truly finding the meaning of in your life. 

Ahhhh....yes, those rose-colored glasses are on again!!!  Perhaps if each of us truly demonstrated integrity in all of our affairs our world would be a much better place than it currently is - but, wait!
That IS what we are called to be as Christians........we are taught in the Scriptures to think about what is right, what is honorable, what is noble, what is just, what is pure, what is lovely, what is of good report, what is of virture, what is praiseworthy.  (Philippians 4:8-9).

We are to think about these things - what if we lived them as well?  Think about such things.  Then,
ask for the ability to live a life of integrity in all things.  Not some, not part, not most, but all.
God is waiting for us to ask so that he can be evident to all whom we come in contact with - every day, every moment.  Think about such things.