Without CAUSE, We Wouldn't Have EFFECT

hello, again, snowy cincinnati
... happy tuesday!

It's winter again in Cinci. To go along with the unexpected surprise of new snowfall, here's a gritty little rant I didn't expect to have today, either. In advance, if you're offended, well... I'm not sorry.

I admittedly lost some sleep last night, as I layed there mulling over some of the inevitable muddle of things happening, things to do, people, more to-do's, life, liberty and the pursuit of whatever it is in this short lifetime that we're all seeking.

I parted ways with my bed this morning with more thoughts than peace in my head [not really a desired balance] and was determined to get it all out, somehow.

It started as a brief thought [birthed and developed during my 9-mile, 48-minute morning snow commute ;)], which I shared as a note of encouragement online. This was the original blurb:

Without our failures, we wouldn't know success.
Without limitations, we wouldn't recognize authenticity.
Without hypocrites, we wouldn't appreciate candor.
Without boastfulness, we wouldn't understand true humility.
Without the valleys, we wouldn't achieve personal growth.
Without conditional behavior, we wouldn't respect consistency.
And without INTEGRITY, we WON'T trust anyone.. even ourselves.

From there, the principle of the whole thing took root in my mind and augmented itself as the day wore on. By the time I found myself back at home, I had a more than ample additions to the initial thought [and no, there is no official literary structure to this one; my apologies in advance to my fellow bookies]:

Without abrasion, we wouldn't become polished.
Without destruction, we wouldn't develop tenacity for fresh starts.
Without dissention, we wouldn't hold individual values.
Without division, we wouldn't promote unity.
Without hate, we wouldn't know to pursue love.
Without experience, we wouldn't exercise discernment.
Without faith, we wouldn't have hope.
Without INTEGRITY, we ARE NOT worth our own word.

I could literally go on... for days, on this topic. I've been struggling the most in the recent weeks with a few select situations in my life, things... and people that I wish would just become transparent, for the sake of not themselves but for the things and people around them that are very directly affected by this. In a world where a professed-Christian business owner puts an icthus on his business card between his name and the company's, but has to lie when unknown numbers call him to hide from his previous company's contact...... the deception expands both internally and externally. The image of Christians as a whole is thwarted by the darkness of selective deception, while on the outside, the over-exertion of effort to create a picture of flawless, humble behavior and lifestyle attracts the accolades of the crowds. It makes me sick, because 1] I've been in those shoes, wanting so desperately to believe I was being a good person, but having to do so by setting conditions to which rules I would follow, and 2] because these actions proactively DESTROY the exact thing we're trying to create if we do them.

Without the full story, we will not see the truth.
Without sheep, a wolf has no wool coat.
Without INTEGRITY, we WILL NOT experience freedom.

Am I being passive aggressive today? Yes.
Do I care? No.

I'm reading over the things I've just written and yes, I know it has a rather choppy flow, certainly not the most connected thing I've ever transferred from my mind to writing................ but here's the thing:

This is real. This is a REAL problem. I don't know if it's because of what I heard yesterday at church [regarding the fine line of destructive pride and genuine humility, thank you, Adam..], or because it's the Christmas season and naturally this is the time when we as a whole water down the meaning of it all in our pursuit of things.... but I have this to say to us, as Christians, non-Christians, HUMANS, during Christmas or ANY other time of the year...... [and I am NOT exempt from this advice..]

ouch...

I hope I am not alone in believing that regardless of who we are or what we do, that it is NOT okay to label ourselves into a category that is defined by the exact principles we are only selectively choosing to follow. That being said, I realize it's a double-edged sword in LIFE, because without the unfavorable alternative(s), we really... honestly... would not know the contrast on which would should focus.

Call this a tired tirade if you want, but my heart is heavy today with the weight of certain people - small people - who are being directly influenced and affected by the examples set forth by these kinds of decisions. Again, I am not exempt from making bad calls. I have, however, learned the freedom of honesty and most of all transparency; I no longer feel the need to please everyone around me, let alone inventory separate personalities for separate people. I'm becoming an open book, for better or for worse, but I know this: I'll own my regrets and NOT repeat them.

Without provocation, we have no motivation.
Without problems, we won't become catalysts.
Without INTEGRITY, well... we ARE the problem.

I am so wholly thankful for the people in my life, especially those that I've hurt... because they were courageous and loving enough to bring it to my attention. Was it painful to hear? Duh... but they were right to do so and I am grateful for it.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
- Prov 27:17

//rant. If this convicted you, the way it did me today, then commit it to your memory. If it compelled you, share it. If it offended you, then you should probably re-read it. And if you find that I am in a position to be reminded of the need for my own transparency, please tell me. I promise I will do the same.

Have a wonderful week, blogbots.
xo | cmd