Integrity

Gen 17:1-2

I started a series a while back where I wrote on The Goodness of God. 

Goodness is a virtue which God is the source. We get it from Him so that we can be decent to our fellow human beings and all that he has created. There is a constant tug of war between two forces: Good and Evil where one has to make a choice all the time, every time. What sways the balance is what resides in ones heart. The bible says:

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Proverbs 4:23

Needless to say, what goes on in our hearts has a direct impact on what flows out of our hearts and controls our minds and our behavior right here on earth. We are constantly working to do things the right way by others and the inner circles of those immediately related to us but how are we doing that for those outside our family circle? And if we step further out into the outer perimeter to those not related to us and even further where strangers are, we find those who we don’t even want to deal with, the ones who don’t like us. 

Today I want to tackle another word closely related to goodness which is “integrity”.

As usual, Google is a know it all haven! I googled and it said the true meaning of integrity is:

1. Firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: which is incorruptibility.
2. An unimpaired condition: soundness
3. The quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness

Most of us don’t have a problem dealing with our immediate family members, even in dysfunctional families; we can dredge up some semblance of decency that can end up with  “just not talking with” {that is a subject for another discussion}. What do we do when we are confronted with a hostile environment or encounter with a stranger? How do we let Jesus in us show up?

I recently had such an encounter and it led me to go to God for help; and that is where I stumbled on the word “integrity”.

It was in the middle of a hot day at a busy parking lot of a shopping center. I finished driving through one lane, but could not find a free parking spot so I drove towards the entrance of the stores and joined the connector lane. There was a black SUV in front and we were all moving in one direction but in a split of a second I saw the reverse lights of the vehicle come on followed by a thud noise and I stepped on the break! My car was hit in the front! The vehicle moved forward and then stopped! I released the gears to pack mode and came out. It was not a bad accident, but it was an accident. I couldn’t see any damage on the SUV, but there was minimal damage on mine. The lady driver came out shaking and furious and immediately accused me of knocking her on the area to which she is covered by law here in Georgia. If your front knocks someone else’s rear almost 100% you are the one who will be liable.

She denied categorically that she did not reverse. I was perplexed and I could feel fumes of anger rising up within me so I decided to retreat into my car and called the police. I stayed civil and calm in the situation as she ganged up with another policeman who was around. When I approached them to explain my view the hostility was ripe: I left them alone and went back to my car to wait for the police to arrive.

When the police arrived he packed behind me, came out past me and went to speak to the other lady. I came out and approached him but he totally ignored me: and when he gave me a chance to speak, his mind was already made up.

Cross roads: I did not know what to do or how to move forward but that is where integrity kicks in. Just simple moves; one step and then the other. It is normal to react and make a move to defend one self. This is when you remember Jesus and ask yourself what would He do? Of course he was full of integrity, He is God. He came and faced horrible trials without retaliating; always moving in the opposite direction when attacked. Always keeping in focus on what brought him down here; and He made sure he completed his task.

I tried to tell the police officer that my car has emergency brakes and I can’t knock someone with my front or back. I explained that I saw the reverse lights of the car in front of me come on real quick and close. It all fell on deaf ears. He had made his ruling and he put the fault on me. Frustrated and feeling hopeless, I took it to God in prayer and I declared that all things work out together my good even this accident. 

But then I searched myself further and saw that hate and bitterness were lurking at the doors of my heart, so I started repenting and asking God to forgive me where I missed it, or did not hear I continued to pray for the lady and the policeman asking God to bless them and to draw them to himself, I didn’t know what was going on in their lives but I knew that I am a child of God and nothing happens without my Father’s knowledge. I prayed for peace and good will thoughts to invade my soul. I knew I would have to stay my mind on God so I don’t grow bitter; we pray for those who hate us, do us wrong and we leave the judgment to God.

So back to the topic, how solid is your integrity? This ordeal taught me something I want to share: I found out that when faced with a tough challenge, integrity is there, it is the pause button that makes you take time before reacting. On the outside I wanted to lash out but within me I felt a calming hand holding me back, that was causing me to rethink my responses and even to be empathetic and think of the other person and their well being. 

When I made the call to emergency, the person asked “what is your emergency?” and almost the next question is are you hurt? Is there anyone with you in the car? Are there any injured persons? I know they have a script and they are trained to follow that line of questioning. I think this is the way we need to be aware of the wellbeing of others. When we adhere to a code of special moral standards it will help us behave in a civil way towards others.  

I conclude with the thought that integrity is a necessary quality for all human beings to have from all walks of life, but more so for a child of God because we are to emulate our Father and help the world be a better place. 

Lashing out when we are in a conflicting situation causes rapid explosions. Being quick to hear and slow to speak helps to gather one’s thoughts and speak all the time, keeping an eye on the words that are going to come out. It’s not easy, but a very influential lady who has rested taught me to count one to ten whenever you can before exploding with an answer. 

Integrity works together with all the other pillars in life: goodness, mercy, honesty, kindness but it is a force that you have to pull on when you need to be good and kind to someone who is being exactly the opposite. Be on your guard and try it out next time you are challenged. The things that offend us will come but Jesus said to be of good cheer because He has overcome for us: so don’t try in your own strength, draw from the eternal source of integrity; Jesus.

After Abraham walked with God for several years in Gen 17:1-2 God comes back and tells Abraham to be perfect: that friends is where we are heading, integrity forces us to walk a tight line with God’s moral principles guiding us. Always to do better than what is being dished out to us.