Integrity check: a battle of the scruples

An odd thing happened when I originally wrote this post: it disappeared. I save my work as I go, but on that particular morning I couldn’t recall my actions. And when I reopened the document a few minutes later, the entire post—along with another piece of writing—vanished. Autosave didn’t seem to be on its game, either. I wondered if my post went missing because it isn’t the kind of story a person wants to admit “out loud.” Curious? It all began upon returning home from the post office with three books of stamps. The conflict? I only purchased two. Honest truth? My initial reaction went something like this: #blessed… immediately followed on its heels by: You know you need to return it. I did, of course. But not before the archetypal angel and devil suspended over opposite shoulders argued their points. The postal clerk thanked me for my kindness. Yet I simply did the right thing.

When did you last encounter a battle of the scruples?

Image source: familyshare.com.

A wise (wo)man keeps her mouth shut: a practice in humility

As I began my power walk, I soon started replaying a text I received from a friend in response to a group message. My friend’s reply had come across to me as a bit snide and laced with derision and judgment. Because both of us are Christ followers, and we strive to represent Him in the best light, I felt she would appreciate a private message pointing out the tone of her text. As I contemplated how to broach the topic with kindness, a tiny pebble worked its way into my shoe—digging into my heel for the remainder of my 30-minute walk. This served as a tangible reminder of the Biblical parable found in Matthew 7:3: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” Not only did it bring to mind my own “log,” but also that a wise (wo)man keeps her mouth shut.

When have you held your tongue lately?

Image courtesy of photostock at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.