Week 4, Day 7: Integrity

Just sitting here thinking. One, that my math was off and this will not end exactly on Christmas. Oh well. Worser things have happened. Two, I always want to blog about Christmas. Every day. I LOVE IT and just can't help myself! I love the feeling, the lights, the focus on giving and Christ, etc, etc, etc....

Then I step back and think, okay, how else did I feel Christ today?

This is what came to me.

Today, I sat in a meeting in which we discussed Intellectual Property issues with some pictures we are using, I got frustrated with all the red tape we have to go through for what seems like such a small risk. Let me explain.

I am working on a project with pictures from all around the world. The Intellectual Property Rights, like a copyright, are very important to the Church. If we don't have clearance from the photographer and those in the pictures, they could sue the Church for using their picture without their consent. It's interesting and can honestly be a bit frustrating.

As I felt frustration mount over a picture in Mexico, I felt myself thinking, "Really, what are the odds that this person in Mexico is going to see this and want to sue the Church?"

And then it hit me. Does it matter? Of course, I know that the Church does it to protect itself and not lose sacred tithing money due to foolishness, but it goes much deeper. It made me think of a story I heard in conference once that has just stuck with my soul. I think of it often as I make seemingly "insignificant" decisions that could breech my integrity. 

"Some 30 years ago, while working in the corporate world, some business associates and I were passing through O’Hare Airport in Chicago, Illinois. One of these men had just sold his company for tens of millions of dollars—in other words, he was not poor."

 

"As we were passing a newspaper vending machine, this individual put a quarter in the machine, opened the door to the stack of papers inside the machine, and began dispensing unpaid-for newspapers to each of us. When he handed me a newspaper, I put a quarter in the machine and, trying not to offend but to make a point, jokingly said, 'Jim, for 25 cents I can maintain my integrity. A dollar, questionable, but 25 cents—no, not for 25 cents.'" (Three Towels and a 25 Cent Newspaper, Richard C. Edgely)

Isn't interesting how often we are faced with minor decisions, 25 cent decisions, that seem so trivial:

• Oh, they gave me too much change. Do I return it? It was their mistake.
• If I say this in a certain way, it's not exactly lying and I protect myself. They won't know the difference anyway, right? 
• Should I copy this test, CD, picture? What are the odds they'll find out?
• Etc, etc, etc...

Honestly, I am not perfect in all of this, but I have found that the best question when faced with a situation:

"My integrity for a quarter?"

The truth is that the person in the picture from Mexico may honestly never know if we don't go through the proper steps to get clearance, nor may she care if she sees herself in the picture.

But so what? I'll know... and the Lord will know. In those two elements lie integrity. It is based on the condition of the heart and the honesty before others, yourself and the Lord.

I love what wonderful Wikipedia had to say on the subject:  

Integrity is a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations and outcomes.

Consistency of action and honesty of heart. Whether in front of others or on your own. Integrity is a choice. The alternative may seem easier in the moment, but the way of integrity is the way to peace of conscience and happyness*. It's the very highest choice.

*Yeah for the callout to my blog!