HOW DO YOU DEFINE INTEGRITY? (Please give your definition below!)
Here at our school we often talk about being a "Culture of Integrity - Our foundation is a broadly inclusive community within the values-orientated Episcopal Tradition."
I have always respected the people who can admit their own errors or gracious give praise to others who deserve it. Yet, when competition enters the picture, integrity seems to go out the window.
Here are three videos I am going to show tomorrow in chapel to help unpack the word INTEGRITY.
First, Derek Jeter, who on Sep. 16th 2010 was "hit by a pitch" during a game. The problem? He wasn't hit at all! Here are some comments by people in the sports world regarding...integrity????
Next, Brian Davis, who displays his level of integrity during the 2010 Verizon Heritage Tournament. This is the recap of the final hole and then the playoff. Notice something here - he called the penalty on himself. What does that say about his own level of integrity?
Finally, notice how the commentators speak about Brian Davis in their recap.
"Our integrity sells for so little, but it is all we really have. It is the very last inch of us. But within that inch we are free." -V for Vendetta
ReplyDeletePerhaps integrity is being able to act rightly, without concern for the external circumstances, rewards, or consequences. Doing the right/best/needed thing solely for the sake of doing the right/best/needed thing. Can it be its own reward, or must we have some sort of praise or acknowledgment for our actions to be noble, just, kind, and honest? What if we will receive no such adulation for our laudable efforts, or worse, what if they were criticized, and consequences were incurred? I believe a person with integrity would still endeavor to act, regardless of efforts going potentially unnoticed, or even being negatively rewarded.