One who walks in integrity, walks securely, but one who takes crooked paths will be discovered. Proverbs 10:9, TLV

What Does Walking in Integrity Look Like?     As we walk the path of life, we don’t always make good decisions. And we have talked about how the fear of making a wrong decision can actually cause great stress and anxiety.

After seven decades, I still make decisions that are based on selfishness, laziness, impatience, fear, and foolishness. Hopefully, a lot less often than before, but because I’m still living with the negative repercussions of a few decisions — well, I’d say it is an issue I need to work on.

Integrity

Where does integrity come into this?

It comes in when I own up to what I’ve done and not take the crooked path of avoiding my responsibilities.

Taking the crooked path most often comes from fear. Fear of punishment. Fear of looking bad. Fear of being wrong. Fear of offending God. Well, that last one is silly. He saw the whole thing — from our decision to the outcome. It’s not like He hasn’t seen us do stupid things before. He’s just sad when we add sin to the poor decision.

Three Excuses

I remember something from my childhood. It was some television show where a guy came running into a New York diner. He was late for a business lunch. The server stood by as the late guy rattled off not just one or two excuses, but three to his lunch partner. The server pointed to the guy and said, “He’s lying.”

When asked why the server would make such an offensive remark. He pointed to the late-guy and said, “Had he just apologized for being late, I would say he was a man of integrity. One excuse, you might need to keep an eye out for him. The second excuse means he has a problem with responsibility. Three excuses, don’t leave your wallet on the table.”

Please forgive my embellishment of the story, I wish I could remember the dialog exactly. What I do remember is the lesson of the story. Just own up to making a mistake.

Just Own Up

The more we try to take the attention off our mistake, the less we are accountable to it.  And the less chance we have of learning from our mistakes.

If we find ourselves in a sticky place of doing or saying something that hurt someone else, or making a mistake that affects others, we need to own up to it. It’s fine, probably wise, to review the circumstances to discover why we may have done what we did, but if we’re reviewing to look for excuses, then . . .

Humility

Taking the path to integrity means we sometimes must humble ourselves. If I see myself from God’s perspective, dodging the inevitable destination is pretty silly. Yet, my default reaction is to do that.

Walking wisdom’s journey has taught me to stop and identify those excuses. Then deal with them. Walking in integrity means walking in humility. Walking in humility means there’s a fighting chance for reconciliation. And that is a good thing.

Think More About It

Have you ever experienced the three-excuse circumstance? As the giver? Or as the receiver? Maybe, both? What was the outcome?

Until tomorrow, may we walk in integrity and God’s perfect love, my friends.

Who can discern his errors?
Cleanse me of hidden faults.
Also keep Your servant from willful sins.
May they not have dominion over me.
Then I will be blameless,
free from great transgression. Psalm 19:13-14, TLV

As we approach Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement—millions of Jewish people are searching their hearts and behaviors for sins, unforgiveness, bitterness, hatred. Shall we agree together for each other and those in Israel and Jewish communities around the world, that willful sins would not have dominion over us? Amen? God bless you.