The latest results from Gallup’s annual "Values and Beliefs" poll are in. According to Gallup, “Americans are very pessimistic about the current state of moral values.” (I guess we are to be surprised.) Gallup's survey was based on telephone interviews with 1,003 adults and indicated that only less than 20% of those surveyed believed that the moral values of the country are positive and nearly 50 percent felt that the morals of the country are “poor.”Unfortunately, Gallup asked the wrong question.
It's easy to respond that there is a general environment of "poor" values, ethics or integrity when you ask a general question about other people. Here is the question that was asked by Gallup:
"Thinking for a moment about moral values: How would you rate the overall state of moral values in this country today -- as excellent, good, only fair, or poor?"
Let's see if we can rephrase this question:
"Thinking for a moment about your moral values: How would you rate your personal integrity - excellent, good, only fair, or poor?"
You see, when the issue of Integrity becomes personal, it becomes a little more relevant doesn't it? Now, asking this question may get a little sticky. We don't know whether people have the integrity to answer a question about their own integrity with integrity!
But at least there would be no confusion about the question.
When we talk about other people's integrity, it's easy to miss the point. Those people are likely not accountable to you. Politicians of course are in an entirely different category so we won't comment on politicians.
But what about you?
What is your integrity like at work? Do you do walk the walk or merely just talk the talk? Do you misrepresent the facts, even a little to the boss? Are we faithful in the "little things" as Jesus talked about in the Gospel of Luke?
I've had the great opportunity to spend some time working with some of the "down-and-out" at a men's shelter in Pittsburgh. After my first visit, I learned much about communicating with these men. They didn't need to be reminded of their vice, just the opportunity to turn to a Savior. They knew they had fallen short, they just needed to be encouraged to reach up for help.
Integrity is terribly important. At home, at the office, with our children, our spouse, our friends and in public, our integrity, or the lack of integrity is often the primary cause of both blesses and curses.
Dr. Henry Cloud comments in his book Integrity: the courage to meet the demands of reality, that integrity can be defined "as the state of being whole and undivided."
We'll look at Integrity often in this Blog as I'm convinced that it is the most misunderstood character quality and actually the most likely to have an impact....both for good or for evil.
