Integrity Lives

Our good friend, Pastor Bill Oudemolen recently blogged about the erosion of integrity in today's society (http://milehighrev.com/). He listed some of the numerous examples of this kind of behavior, from Bernie Madoff to Chris Brown. To me, the definition of integrity has its roots in the word "integration". The person and image you present to the outside world is consistent/integrated with the actions you take behind closed doors. Clearly that was not the case with the people mentioned in Bill's blog.

When it comes down to it, integrity is essential to trust and the building of community.

Perhaps the value of integrity has been lost in our disconnected society, where most people don't know their neighbors, let alone rely upon them. There is no personal contract between community members.

Thankfully, integrity is still modeled in rural communities like ours. Neighbors depend upon neighbors to act honorably and with integrity. Not just because it is the right thing to do (which it is), but because it is essential to the survival of the community. In small towns we depend upon each other as we live shoulder to shoulder. Individual community members can't hide. You will see the person you do business with or live near again...and frequently. At the Post Office, at community meetings, at the Tractor Supply store. This proximity keeps us honest...and connected. It also keeps us ever mindful of the power of words, and the importance of measuring them, as many of us will spend the rest of our days together. This connectedness is a responsibility and a blessing. It is what brings strangers to your door with offers of assistance when a flood strikes, what brings communities together to support a volunteer fire department. We celebrate it in little ways...with Memorial Day parades and park fund raisers. For those of us who have chosen to live here, we are thankful that integrity still lives.