Honesty is Still the Best Policy

It would seem in our society today that the lines of integrity are slightly blurred.  Perhaps it's because we must provide for our family, take care of them, protect them even. Or maybe it's the dog eat dog mentality that encourages an attitude of me first and the best for me - more of an attitude of selfishness. Maybe still we've just become lazy and it's easier to let things slide. Whether it's the "Robin Hood" syndrome or "keeping up with the Jones"; a lie is still a lie and honesty is still the best policy.

 

I found myself needing to make a decision involving integrity this weekend.  For the last month my family has suffered a rather large black mold infestation in our condo.  Six different  condos have been affected.  Between remediation teams, construction crews, insurance adjusters and the HOA it has become most intolerable.  You can imagine that besides the health issues of this situation, homeschooling and carrying on normal activities in this chaos has felt insurmountable.  I admit, I have kicked and screamed like a two year old, begged for a way out, prayed, cried and then kicked and screamed again.

 

After looking at houses that didn't fit our budget or our time frame, I had just about given up.  Then this week a friend offered us her house.  It was in our budget, we could move in right away and was perfect.  It was all my favorite colors and had stainless steel appliances.  You just don't get those luxuries when you rent. But my heart was in knots over the situation.  The house was going into short sale and I could not admit that I was renting it, not to the HOA, the bank - no one.With the down fall of the real estate world it has become a common and accepted practice. I wanted out of our current situation so bad and that house was so pretty, I said yes to the rental.  I agreed to look the other way.  She was a single mom simply trying to take care of her family. And it's not fair that the banks won't help out.

 

In truth my heart wrestled all night knowing that I could not reconcile what I was about to do with the knowledge that my God is bigger than all of our problems.  When you couple that with the fact that He is righteous and a just God, you must walk in integrity and trust that He will be faithful. And so, this morning we turned down the rental and chose to stick it out where we are.  I cried again, broken hearted over my wants.  But behind that pain was the reassuring presence of my Lord and the knowledge that His plans are bigger and better than mine.  I could hear Him whisper, "Good job, my daughter."

 

I understand desperation and despair.  I have not always taken the high road if you will.  But Jesus, loves us and by the very definition of love He cannot help but provide for us and take of us. He says not to worry about what you should eat or drink (Matthew 6:25-34), to not be anxious but to pray with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6).  My God shall supply all your needs.

 

Let's not blur the line of integrity, rather let us live above reproach and have honesty and truth reign in our hearts.

A Beautiful Strangling

I have always loved allegories and analogies.  It is art with words that just make sense in my mind and rings true with my heart.  Because of this, I often see examples in my everyday life that cause me to stop and think of the things of God. Today I saw this tree while on a walk with my family.  My first impression was how beautiful it was.  I loved how the vine gracefully wrapped itself around the tree. The two of them combined to form a stately and strong vision.  However, upon closer inspection I saw that in fact the vine was choking the tree.  The tree lacked room to grow, while the vine sucked up all of the nourishment.  The tree would have surely perished except that the caretaker had come along and cut away at the vine.  The vine now dead, had released its grip but remained as a reminder. 

As I took it all in, a picture was created in my mind - one of sin and its affects on our life.  Sin, be it an object, activity or attitude may appear good, beautiful even.  If we allow it to, like the vine, it will wrap itself around our life, choking us - depleting us of our God given purpose.

Pause, and contemplate with me; what may have wrapped around our hearts?  What do we need the Caretaker to come along and cut away in our lives?