What is Integrity

"What is Integrity"
by Rev. Christine
7/26/98

This month we have been focused upon the foundation principles of this country as set forth by our founding fathers; freedom, power, life, and for today integrity. These are our God given rights, and spiritual gifts to be realized. The freedom to express who we truly are; the power to make our own lives -- to be self-empowered; choice for life — valuing a fulfilled purposeful life; and being in one’s own integrity — true to Self. These are the qualities that make up a truly independent person.

Integrity, what is integrity? I’ll start with the definition from Webster’s Dictionary:

1) the quality or state of being complete; unbroken condition; wholeness; entirety

2) the quality or state of being unimpaired; perfect condition; soundness

3) the quality or state of being of sound moral principle; uprightness, honesty and sincerity."

The qualities of integrity for the purpose of my talk today are wholeness, perfect, sound, and principled; being true to our God-Self.

And, I repeat from my July 5^th talk on Freedom, the quote by John Adams our 2^nd president, "Our constitution was designed only for moral and religious people." I believe he was describing principled people. People who are spiritually guided, and in their integrity.

Cofounder Nona Brooks would say, "My power is my integrity." What is meant by this statement? When we understand who we are, being who we are, and acting who we are -- then we are in our power — we are being in agreement with our true nature. This true nature is our God-Self. When we understand our God-Self, that part of us that is whole, perfect, intelligent, life sustaining, creative, joyful, harmony and peace. And, we are giving life to our true self — in our inner thoughts and feelings. Our actions follow in deeds of love and service.

We start with our foundation, our true understanding of Self. I’m reminded of the story of "The 3 Little Pigs" and their houses built with straw, sticks and brick. How easily the wolf was able to blow down the houses of straw and sticks. But the house of brick withstood all his hard blowing.

This is true for us — what is our house of consciousness built upon. Do our beliefs support who we are, or are they fragile like the straw that easily falls down and scatters with the wind — allowing us to be victim to the conditions of the world. Our are beliefs rigid like the sticks that when put to test easily snap apart, not allowing for new insights, or ways of doing things and seeing life.

Our are beliefs like the bricks, solid, sound, and withstands the test of time. Truth Principle (with a capital "T") never changes — it is eternal, and will always apply.

Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus says:

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock.

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell; and great was the fall of it."

Are your beliefs sound, solid as a rock, based upon eternal Truth that will meet the tests — the storms of life? Are you firmly grounded in your beliefs, do you practice and live by them? Or are they ever shifting, ready to crumble at the first sign of an earthquake.

Nona, said, "The practice of Omnipresence is more than devotion, more than a lifted consciousness. It is a daily, matter-of-fact experience of reality." To Nona it wasn’t about long pious faces being religious. Rather being filled with life, joy and living it.

Being true to self, may be difficult at times, but it is always less painful in the long run. A few years ago a friend told me, "those that don’t like to confront always do a lot of damage." I thought about this for some time, and realized its truth. The worst hurts have been from lack of communication, from not being up front — from not telling the truth.

Some would rather side step the issue, ignoring or pretending it didn’t happen and then later on explode over the smallest incident. Others will manipulate behind one’s back to avoid the issue at hand. Avoidance never solves anything. It just keeps coming back in some form to be worked out in a higher way. This kind of behavior hurts everyone including self. We defile who we are, and become disconnected with our integrity — with our wholeness and true self.

Where do we put our faith? Faith in the outer world of appearances that is always changing and threatening to our physical well being. Or, do we have faith in the invisible world, and trust our inner voice saying "everything is all right."

Whenever we feel let down by others or our self, it is because we have put our faith in the outer appearances. Are we looking outward for our good? Are we putting our faith in other people? This will always bring disappointment. Instead go within and look to God. Realize that God is working through you and through other people. Trust this is so without a doubt. But if for a moment we look to the outer personality or appearance we have separated ourselves in consciousness from our good — from God.

Judge not by appearances but righteously. This is the basis of all Truth healing. In Divine Science we hold to the truth of the Divine Presence which is everywhere equally present, whole perfect without a flaw. We see beyond the appearance to the truth of God — to the integrity of the person; which is whole, sound and perfect. When we speak we are speaking to their Christ Self which knows the truth, we come into agreement, which is then realized and made manifest — harmony is restored.

We are reminded that whatever is true of God, is True of all mankind, these are our inheritances because God is expressing through and as its creation. It is God as mankind, as earth, as animals, as plants, as food, as weather, as climate. Therefore we are wisdom in action, knowledge in action, understanding in action, power in action, life in action, joy in action, and love in action. All creation is Spirit in Action.

I’ll close with a quote by Nona, "God is everywhere, therefore God is here. What God is is everywhere, therefore what God is is here." Meaning everything around you, including you -- is Holy Divine Spirit-Substance. When you are in your integrity, you are in your power. My power is my Integrity.

Today’s affirmation:
"Today I Am true to my Self. I see God in All."