I have been learning some things about myself lately. I have learned that consistency and fairness is MUCH more important to me than I had ever realized. And, I need for those who set the rules to play by the rules ... or honey look out, I get soooo frustrated ... and then I get mad and then I get bitter and it's just not pretty. I know I wrote not long ago on the whole issue of fairness. I DO realize life is just not fair. But I wish there was a "job fairy" that went around making sure people did what they were supposed to ... and if they didn't, dusted them with "get off your butt" dust that made them do it. I know, I don't believe in the tooth fairy either, so I won't wait on that to happen.
But, back to the integrity thing ... TN used several illustrations of integrity ... one was when Ezra told the king that God would protect them ... and since he told the king that, he wouldn't ask for soldiers to go with them. He was a man of his word. He said God would protect them and he was going to act like it. Here's another one:
After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" "Yes, he does," he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?" "From others," Peter answered. "Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. "But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."
Matthew 17:24-17
Never had thought about this in terms of integrity. But in reading it, here's what stuck out to me... Jesus did not have to pay the temple tax, but because some would not understand this, He did ... at a cost and "unfairly." Integrity is willing to pay a price to be who you say you are. It is willing to put aside personal "rights" for the greater good. It is concerned, not just with how things are, but how they appear as well. When, to be a woman of integrity, I have to do something that is unfair, do I stick to my "fair right" or sacrifice for the sake of integrity? Hmmmmm ....
As I was pondering this today, a "note" was posted by one of my students to facebook and it showed up in my newsfeed. I didn't investigate to see his original comments, but I was impressed by his humility in posting this follow up. This, to me, was a HUGE picture of integrity. I hope his friends got that as well.
So earlier today I had a status containing some remarks about the music artist Kesha.
The long and short of this note is that I'm apologizing for them. While it's true that I'm not a big fan of her music, I let my frustration and dislike get the best of me and spoke very disrespectfully. I didn't really think through what I was saying, I'm very sorry if my post offended you, and now that I look at it in retrospect I understand why it did. I posted my own opinions and very strong feelings and used the Bible to back up what I was saying.
I acted inappropriately and I'm extremely sorry to all of you that I offended. Please accept my apology and promise that I'll try to think a little more clearly the next time around.
No rationalizing, no demanding his "rights" (I mean, he IS entitled to his opinion), just a simple apology for having possibly offended someone. And I am not a bit surprised he did this. I would have expected no less. INTEGRITY ... He is the godly young man that he says he is. I hope the same could be said of me.
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