January 19, 2010 6:50 AM

Something to ponder

INTEGRITY MEANS NEVER HAVING TO LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER

inigo.jpgI saw this on a church marquee on my way home from work last night. Normally, I can ignore most anything like that, because most of it impresses me as benign propaganda. This quote set me to thinking, and I haven't been able to get it out of my mind. Perhaps it's the realization of how often and how far I've fallen short of this, despite my best efforts to be a person of integrity. Perhaps it's the recognition that I'm a flawed human being who's left a fair amount of wreckage in his wake. Or maybe it's just knowing that life is a contact sport, and it's not about wearing a helmet. Ultimately, is really IS about the Golden Rule...and, like any other human being, I break that rule far more often than I'm usually willing to admit. Treating others as you would hope to be treated is often one of the most difficult things to do in life.

Like any of us, I come equipped with my own set of blinders. Now matter how much or how hard I try, sometimes I'm guilty of acting in a manner that's based primarily on my own self-interest. In a perfect world, I'd never have to look over my shoulder...but in this world, I have to more often than I'd care to admit. I can't control how others treat me, but I can certainly control how I treat others...and so this is what I will try to do. The goal is to never have to look over my shoulders, because I should be focused on what lies ahead, not what's behind me. Perhaps if I'm successful in doing this, I'll begin to see myself as a person of integrity. If I can do that, my hope is that those around me will recognize that in me, and that my relationships will be based on love, trust, friendship...and a mutual hatred of the Dallas Cowboys. ;-)

After all, without a sense of integrity, and without people in my life trusting that I'm a person of integrity, what else do I really have?

blog comments powered by Disqus

Technorati

Technorati search

» Blogs that link here

About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on January 19, 2010 6:50 AM.

You should know that your license to be a parent is about to be pulled when.... was the previous entry in this blog.

He does look good in purple, doesn't he? is the next entry in this blog.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.

Contact Me

Powered by Movable Type 5.12